HC Deb 14 February 2002 vol 380 c644W
Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to amend the 20-day standstill order scheme to apply to individual animals instead of holdings; and what assessment she has made of the efficacy of such a change on the practical management of livestock farms. [33374]

Mr. Morley

Veterinary advice is that for biosecurity reasons, the 20-day standstill rule should continue to apply to holdings rather that individual animals although a number of exceptions to this rule are being permitted under the livestock movement regime which was introduced on 11 February.

Any future changes will need to ensure the continued segregation of incoming animals from the rest of the livestock in order to maintain biosecurity. This situation will be kept under review.