The North's Minister for Agriculture has ruled out vaccinating livestock against foot-and-mouth disease in response to the latest outbreak of the disease in Northumberland.
Mrs Brid Rodgers said continued vigilance at points of entry into the North and at the farm gate remained the best bulwark against the disease. "We did not consider vaccination during the crisis when there were four confirmed cases because we felt the measures we were taking were containing the situation."
She said vaccination would remain a last resort because of the implications for the North's export trade. "We export 60 per cent of our milk to the Republic and about 80 per cent in total. If you are vaccinating you are not considered a disease-free area and therefore a lot of the European and even Third World markets would be closed to you. You would need to be in a disastrous situation before you would consider it."
She said her officials were being extremely careful at all points of entry. "Only last week we turned back two lorries at a port which had not been properly cleansed on the other side. The new outbreak is a very strong reminder to us that the virus is still across the water and therefore that the danger still exists."
The Minister also confirmed her department was considering relaxing restrictions on the movement of sheep. Sheep marts remain closed but cattle marts reopened earlier this month. Her department is maintaining close contact with the Department of Agriculture in the Republic.
Meanwhile, Ulster Unionist MP Mr David Burnside said the new outbreaks in England should act as a warning to the North's farming community. "With new outbreaks on mainland Britain, farmers who have relaxed restrictions, such as disinfecting people and vehicles coming onto farmland, should re-establish those precautionary measures."