Bluetongue zone warning to farms

Animals being taken to Oswestry's livestock market by farmers in Powys will not be allowed back into the region, Government officials have warned.

It comes after Defra announced yesterday that the bluetongue protection zone had been extended to cover Oswestry.

It means that animals which go to Oswestry market will not be permitted to move back into Powys.

Powys County Council's trading standards department has reminded farmers of the restrictions of movement between zones.

Ken Yorston, the council's trading standards manager, said: "Farmers need to be aware that no animals from Oswestry market will be permitted to move back into Powys, as this remains a 'clean' area.

"Movements are permitted from Powys to Oswestry but movements back will not be allowed."

He said farmers wanting to move animals from a clean area through a bluetongue protection zone into another clean area would need to comply with the requirements of a general licence.

"The main criteria of this licence is the requirement for all vehicle compartments used for the transport of animals during this type of journey must be sprayed with an approved insecticide before the animals are loaded onto the vehicle." he said

Last month, a Powys farmer was given a caution by trading standards officers for failing to comply with the disease restrictions.

The incident involved 12 beasts from Powys being taken to Market Drayton cattle market for sale, but only two were sold. The unsold cattle were taken back home by the farmer, contrary to the regulations.

"Anyone who is still not sure of what these regulations actually mean should get in touch with us." said Mr Yorston.

Full details of this licence are available on the Welsh Assembly Government's website www.wales.gov.uk

For more information contact your local Trading Standards office on (01686) 617524.

More than two million doses of the bluetongue serotype-8 vaccine have been released by Defra, which means Shropshire is now included in the protection zone.

The Country Land and Business Association has said vaccinations were a positive step and has underlined that the countryside was very much open for business this summer.

By Anwen Evans