§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ensure that exclusion zones are lifted as soon as a suspected case of foot and mouth disease produces a negative test and the farm in question is found to be clear of the disease. [151929]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 5 March 2001]: In the event of a negative test result for foot and mouth disease, restrictions on a suspected premises will be removed as quickly as possible. This will include any associated `Form C' area restrictions in an eight kilometre zone.
§ Mr. PriorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the application of the foot and mouth disease restrictions on importers of non-EU origin meat and dairy products who process it for immediate re-export outside the EU. [152514]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 6 March 2001]: Provision has been made in EU and UK legislation concerning the foot and mouth disease export restrictions for such trade to take place under tightly controlled conditions. Information has been made available to the trade about these requirements and can be found on the MAFF website at http://maffweb/animalh/int-trde/misc/foot/fmd.htm.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies he has(a) undertaken and (b) plans to commission to assess the effects of the large scale closure of small slaughterhouses on the geographical and chronological spread of foot and mouth disease. [151872]
§ Ms QuinThe reduction in the number of small abattoirs does not appear to be a factor in the spread of foot and mouth disease during the current outbreak. The main cause for the spread of the disease appears to be the movement of sheep for trade purposes. However, detailed epidemiological studies into the outbreak will continue.