News

Defra has confirmed that, subject to no further changes in the disease position, the Protection and Surveillance Zones imposed with regard to the avian influenza outbreak in Suffolk are to be lifted as follows: First Protection Zone - to be lifted and become part of wider Surveillance Zone on Saturday 8th December Second Protection Zone - to be lifted and become part of wider Surveillance Zone on Monday 10th December Wider Surveillance Zone and Restricted Zone to be lifted on Wednesday 19th...

The first epidemiology report into this H5N1 avian influenza outbreak has been published. No evidence has so far been found to indicate introduction via infected poultry or poultry products or vehicles/people transporting them, from countries which have undisclosed infection in their domestic turkey, geese and duck population. Wild birds cannot be ruled out as a source of infection; there is no evidence of H5N1 infection in the local wild bird population or in GB as a whole, but continued...

Defra today announced that it is lifting the ban on bird gatherings, shows and pigeon racing which has been in place since confirmation of avian influenza in Suffolk on 12 November. This decision is based on expert consideration of surveillance and tracing results. As a precautionary measure, the ban will remain in place within the Restricted, Surveillance and Protection Zones in Suffolk and Norfolk. Birds from those zones will not be able to be taken to gatherings in the rest of the country....

Please click here to view the Declaration of a Protection Zone,Surveillance Zone and Restricted Zone as of 2.30pm, Monday 19th November.

Update 18:00 15 November Defra has today made available general licences to address immediate issues relating to the movement of bird by-products and mammals in the zones in place for Avian Influenza. The national ban on bird gatherings and movement restrictions in the zones remain firmly in place. It is essential that poultry keepers are vigilant in checking their birds and report signs of notifiable disease immediately. Also today, the decision has been taken to reclassify the cull at one of...

Please click here to view the Declaration amending the Bluetongue Protection Zone extending it slightly in two areas in Cambridgeshire. These are small extensions to address specific welfare issues, specifically to allow movement of animals off the Nene Marsh to their home farms. More information (including the interactive map allowing zooming in to these areas to see the exact boundaries) is available on the Defra website....

Following initial epidemiological work and veterinary assessment, four further premises have been identified as Dangerous Contacts. All poultry on these premises will be culled as a precautionary measure. These premises are within the existing Restricted Zone. This action is in line with DEFRA's contingency plans and takes into account the level of assessed risk at this early stage in the outbreak. In addition, some general licences to address immediate welfare issues in the area covered by the...

Defra has today (12th) confirmed positive results for the H5 strain of Avian Influenza in turkeys on a premises near Diss on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. A 10 km Surveillance Zone and 3km Protection Zone have been established within which movements of birds are restricted and all birds must be housed or isolated from wild bird contact. Further information is available on Defra's website.

Defra confirmed yesterday that the EU Commission and Member States have agreed a new decision which will allow the relaxation of current Foot and Mouth Disease export restrictions on meat and meat products. For more details please click here.

With effect from midnight tonight (5th November) the Land Registry has decided that certain documents, for example leases, mortgage deeds, etc., will no longer be available in an electronic form on the Land Register Online website. This seems to be as a result of concerns relating to potential misuse of these documents. If copies of such documents are required they will now need to be applied for in writing from the Land Registry or can be obtained from a Land Registry office. To view the Land...

Please click here to view amendments made to the Bluetongue control and protections zones at 16.00 on 29th October 2007.

Defra today confirmed the extension of the Bluetongue Control Zone in Kent and East Sussex, following a new case of Bluetongue in Sevenoaks. As a result, the Control Zone covering parts of Essex and East Anglia will now merge with the Control Zone in Kent and East Sussex to become one single Control Zone. The Protection Zone has also been extended slightly in the South West of England. The Control Zone in the Peterborough area remains unchanged. For more information please click here....

Defra anounced at 12.45 pm today that the Control Zone in Kent is being extended into East Sussex following confirmation today of a case near Rye. The Bluetongue Protection Zone is also being slightly amended accordingly. This reflects the UK’s Bluetongue Control Strategy and EU legislation. For more information please visit the Defra website.

Defra confirmed yesterday that Bluetongue has been found on two premises, one near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire and one near Ashford, Kent. These cases are within the current Bluetongue Protection Zone. In line with the UK Bluetongue Control Strategy and EU legislation, Control Zones have been put in place around these two new cases, while investigations are undertaken to determine the disease situation. The existing Protection Zone has also been extended accordingly. For more details please...

DEFRA have announced today that a 3 km Foot and Mouth Temporary Control Zone has been put in place around a premises near Rye, East Sussex. This is a precautionary measure following a veterinary assessment of suspect signs of disease in sheep. Laboratory tests are in progress and there is no timetable for receiving results. Should there be any further news, we will update this website.

Markets within the Bluetongue Control and Protection Zones will be permitted from midnight Sunday 14 October. The movement of susceptible animals from within the Control and Protection Zones to approved slaughterhouses outside the Bluetongue Zones will also be permitted from this time. Conditions apply and markets within the FMD Risk Area will remain closed. From Monday, slaughterhouses outside the Bluetongue Zones will be able to apply to the Meat Hygiene Service to be approved to take...

On 10th October Defra announced that the existing Bluetongue Control and Protection Zones are being extended following confirmation of further cases of Bluetongue in Essex. The UK Bluetongue Control Strategy and EU legislation require that the zones to be extended due to the proximity of these cases to the boundary of the existing Control Zone. For more information please click here....

It has been confirmed that the 2007 Pre-Budget report and Comprehensive Spending Review will be presented by Alistair Darling, The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the House of Commons on Tuesday 9th October. It was anticipated that this would occur later in the month, but it seems that is the final day when Gordon Brown could call a general election for 1st November. For further information please see the BBC News website....

Defra has confirmed that with effect from 08.15 this morning (3rd October) the Foot and Mouth Temporary Control Zone imposed near Haywards Heath on the border of East and West Sussex has been revoked.

Defra has today (29th September) carried out a further Foot and Mouth Disease related slaughter on suspicion on a farm in Surrey. This seemingly follows clinical examination of animals located on land within the existing FMD Protetcion Zone. No timetable has been given for laboratory results of tests carried out.

Defra has confirmed this afternoon (27th September) that Bluetongue has been declared as an official outbreak. For further information please log into CAAV Members' Documents. To view Defra's news release, please click here.

6.20 p.m. Defra has confirmed this evening (27th September) that the FMD Temporary Control Zone set up around a premises near Maidenhead has now been lifted. In addition, they have confirmed that a fifth case of Bluetongue has been found on a fourth premises near Burstall, Suffolk. Epidemiological investigations are still ongoing to establish whether the disease is "circulating".

Hampshire - DEFRA has placed a 3 km Temporary Control Zone around premises near Petersfield in Hampshire following a veterinary assessment and while laboratory tests are under way. Berkshire/Surrey - Following the fourth infected case near Egham (this time near Runnymede) the Surrey Protection and Surveillance Zones have beenextended...

DEFRA has announced that a fourth farm in the Egham area where stock were slaughtered late yesterday has proved positive for FMD. As of earlier yesterday afternoon, 128 suspect farms had proved negative since August 3rd, 5 (now 6) positive and 1 was under investigation (that may not be the same as this new case).

12.53 p.m. Defra has just confirmed that further test results received back regarding a third farm within the Protection Zone in Surrey where it was suspected sheep had been exposed to FMD have been positive. The sheep were anyway to be slaughtered on suspicion. As a result the Protection Zone has been amended with effect from 11.35 a.m. this morning (18th September). For further information please see Defra's website....

Following intial blood test results which suggest that there has been exposure to FMD, sheep on a farm within the Protection Zone in Surrey are being slaughtered. Further test results are awaited.

Defra has this evening lifted the Temporary Control Zone imposed in Norfolk following negative laboratory results for Foot and Mouth Disease. Initial tests regarding the strain of FMD virus involved in the one outbreak found to date in Surrey have shown that it is type 01 BFS67 which is the same strain found in the August outbreak. The epidemiological investigate continues into the source of the current outbreak.

The RPA and Natural England have this afternoon (5th September) stated that as the restrictions on movements of susceptible animals have in the main be removed, agri-environment scheme agreement holders should now be in a position to comply with the grazing requirements of their agreements. If there are individual cases where the 20 day standstill rule or restrictions still in place in the Surveillance Zone affect the agreement holder's ability to comply with the requirements of his...

Defra has updated the timetable for the return to disease free status in terms of FMD. This, as previously stated, sees the lifting of the 10 kilometre Surveillance Zone in Surrey on 8th September provided there are no further changes in the current disease situation. In addition, 8th September will see the lifting of the 20 day standstill on movements of livestock, the end of the additional requirements imposed on livestock markets and shows, and the removal of the more restrictive requirement...

From 00:01 on Monday 3 September, livestock markets for cattle, sheep, and pigs will be allowed to resume in England and Wales, outside of the Surveillance Zone in Surrey. Also from this date, animals susceptible to Foot and Mouth Disease can be taken to shows involving animals, outside of the Surveillance Zone. There are additional conditions being imposed as a result of FMD which need to be adhered to for both livestock markets and animal gatherings and further information regarding this is...

Debby Reynolds, Chief Veterinary Office, has today confirmed that from 00.01h on Thursday 23rd August, movements of livestock will be permitted direct to collection centres and slaughter markets provided there is no alteration to the current level of disease risk. Where operators are already approved under the Animal Gatherings (England) Order 2006 should apply for a licence to operate a collection centre/slaughter market from their local Animal Health Office. Further details regarding this can...

The two Temporary Control Zones imposed in Surrey and Kent were lifted with effect from last night (15th August) following further negative laboratory Foot and Mouth disease test results. To view the Defra news release, please click here.

12.50 - We understand that Defra has stated that initial test results for the the farm in Kent and Chessington World of Adventures, both of which had suspected cases of FMD reported yesterday (14th), are negative but that further tests are being carried out to confirm that this is definitely the case. A press conference with Defra is expected shortly.

18.00 - Defra have just confirmed the imposition of a further Temporary Control Zone at 17.45 for a premises located between Esher and Epsom in Surrey (a map showing the TCZ can be viewed here). We are awaiting further details with regard to this possible case but understand it to involve sheep on a holding in Chessington. This follows the declaration earlier today of a TCZ around a farm in Kent where test results relating to 3 cattle are being awaited and are expected either later today or...

An entirely new 3km Temporary Control Zone was imposed at midnight on a farm just west of Dorking, some six miles outside the existing Protection and Surveillance Zones after an "inconclusive assessment" of animals showing suspected symptoms of FMD. This Dorking case is understood to be the Head Tenant of the second infected case. It has not been confirmed as FND. To view the temporary control zone please click here. The new general licences for movement to slaughter and for fallen stock will...

Debby Reynolds, Chief Veterinary Officer, has just announced during a press conference this afternoon that there is to be a relaxation in the livestock movement ban in England with effect from midnight tonight (Wednesday 8th August) in order to allow the movement of livestock direct to slaughter with strict biosecurity requirements and for the collection of fallen stock. These movements will be done under general licence. We understand that the movement straight to slaughter provisions are also...

Defra has this evening (6th August 2007) identified a further suspected case of FMD within a herd of cattle located in the larger of the two Protection Zones. The suspect herd is to be culled as soon as possible. A total of 97 animals have been culled from the initial situation found, 64 from the infected premises and 33 from two dangerous contact premises. To view further updates on Defra's website, please click here....

Debby Reynolds, UK Chief Veterinary Officer, confirmed last night (Thursday 3rd August) that further investigations into the suspected case of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) on what is understood to be a beef fattening farm near Guildford in Surrey had found that FMD was present. All of the cattle on the farm, which number around 60, are to be culled. A 3 kilometre Protection Zone has been imposed as well as a 10 kilometre Surveillance Zone. All movements of ruminants and pigs have been banned on...

Defra have just announced the imposition of a Temporary Control Zone under the Foot andMouthDisease(England)Order2006

1st August 2007 will see the introduction of the compulsory requirement for Home Information Packs (HIPs) for houses with 4 or more bedrooms. This requirement will be extended to small properties once there are sufficient energy assessors trained to carry out the Energy Performance Certificate (EPCs) element of the HIPs. To view further information regarding HIPs, information to be included, EPCs, guidance to buyers/sellers and property professionals, please click here....

The Court of Appeal has overturned the decision made in a High Court judgment to spare Shambo, the 'sacred' bullock kept in the Skanda Vale multi-faith community which tested positive for bovine TB some weeks ago. Following the High Court judgement which ruled that the slaughter of Shambo would contravene the rights of Skanda Vale community under the European Convention of Human Rights, the Welsh Assembly Government had lodged an appeal against the ruling. Unless the Skanda Vale community...

Lord Rooker has today (26th June) presented a written Ministerial Statement to Parliament regarding the Business Plan and Performance targets for the RPA for 2007/8. The targets which Lord Rooker has set are contained in his statement, a link to which is provided above. The RPA 2007/08 Strategy and Business Plan may be viewed on the RPA's website....

New CAAV President - At the AGM of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) held last Friday (8th June) in Bedford, Graham Martyn of the Cheshire Agricultural Valuers Association, and partner of Wright Manley, was elected President of the CAAV. Graham is joined on the CAAV Presidential team by Paul Clayson as Vice-President and Mark Webb as Junior Vice-President. The Debate on Biofuels - It is time for UK farmers to start committing to growing crops for biofuels, a leading merchant...

A farmer from Devon whose cattle were culled due to bovine TB and was paid compensation on the basis of Defra's table valuations system and who as a result felt that his cattle were vastly under-valued has been granted permission to bring a Judicial Review of the system backed by the NFU. It is expected that the case will be heard in the High Court later in 2007. Please see the Farmers Guardian report for further information....

With effect from 6th April 2007, the rules governing cattle identification and tracing have been changed in England, Wales and Scotland. The new Cattle Indentification Regulations 2007 see two main changes to former procedures: Temporary calf passports - these have been abolished which means that full passports are required for all cattle before they are moved from their holding of birth. Late passport application procedure - if an application has not been submitted within the stipulated 27...

David Miliband presented a written statement to the House of Commons today (29th March) in which he announced the rates of voluntary modulation to be applied to the Single Payment Scheme from 2007 onwards as well as plans for national co-financing to voluntary modulation to support the effective delivery of agri-environment schemes, particularly Environmental Stewardship, under Axis 2 of the Rural Development Regulation. The rates of voluntary modulation are to be: 2007 - 12% 2008 - 13% 2009...

The RPA has released the latest figures regarding 2006 Single Payment Scheme payments made as at 21st March 2007: a total of 95,737 claimants have received a payment (partial or full) out of the total number of claimants which is approximately 109,000. 57.84% have received a full payment (which equates to approximately 63,000 claimants) and 29.99% have received a partial payment and are awaiting a top-up to full payment (some 32,689 claimants) total value of payments made is £1,056.36...

With effect from 1st March 2007, pre-movement testing for bovine TB has been extended in England and Wales to include movements of animals over 42 days old (6 weeks) from a one or two yearly tested herd. Such cattle must have tested negative to a TB test within 60 days before the movement. To view Defra's news release, please click here.

David Miliband has this morning (22nd February) presented a written statement to the House of Commons giving an update on full and partial 2006 SPS payments made to date. In addition to the 40,697 full payments made prior to the commencement of the partial payments, 40,270 partial payments have now been made to 2006 SPS claimants which equates to a total of £919.13 million paid (59% of estimated total fund) to 83,967 (77%) claimaints.Further partial payments are to be made to small number of...

The RPA have released figures (as at 31st January) of how many full 2006 SPS payments have been made to farmers. A total of 21,940 full payments have been made during the second half of January with a value of £201 million. To view the RPA's press release, please click here.