Animal movement licences have become a complex issue. To help farmers weave their way through the maze, the following information has been provided by the National Farmers' Union north-east regional office.

MOVEMENT TO SLAUGHTER: Livestock may move to slaughter anywhere inside 250km except from an infected area to a free county. Movement of livestock for slaughter from within an Infected Area (IA) could take place:

a. In the (3km) Protection Zone - After 30 days following preliminary C & D of the infected premises to slaughter anywhere in the IA or At Risk Area

b. In the (10km) Surveillance Zone - After 30 days following preliminary C & D of the IP to slaughter anywhere in the IA or ARA

c. In the IA outside the 10km surveillance zone - To slaughter at any time in the IA or ARA. Animals from the IA could not be slaughtered in the Provisionally Free Area.

The NFU has pressed for the Movement To Slaughter to reflect the arrangements for autumn movements and work on the new county-based system; this is being considered and an announcement is expected soon.

- Applications for movement to slaughter licence are made through Trading Standards Offices - North Yorkshire: (01609) 781154, fax (01609) 773912. Applications may also be found on the NYCC website, copied and filled in at will. East Riding of Yorkshire: (01482) 396254

LIVESTOCK WELFARE DISPOSAL SCHEME

Introduced to alleviate welfare problems created by FMD and subsequent movement restrictions and is a last resort for those who market their livestock. This is operated by the Intervention Board and provides an outlet for those animals which are prevented from moving as normal and facing welfare problems.

- The LWDS telephone helpline number is (0870) 241 5724.

LWDS - LIGHT LAMBS SCHEME

Introduced to deal with lambs which cannot be marketed because of the ban on exports and other movement controls and which would otherwise face severe welfare problems over the coming winter. The scheme is a measure of last resort and for those lambs which cannot be disposed of through the market.

- The LWDS- LLS telephone helpline number is (0870) 241 5724.

MOVEMENT OF LIVESTOCK OTHER THAN TO SLAUGHTER

All enquiries over movement of livestock should be directed to: the National Movement Helpline: (01392) 314941.

AUTUMN MOVEMENT LICENCES

The new Autumn Movement Licences allow movements of livestock, other than to slaughter, for commercial reasons. The overriding aim is to allow farmers as much freedom to get on with their business as is possible without creating an unacceptable risk of spreading disease. There will be no need for justification on welfare grounds.

The basis for livestock movements is changed from defined areas (Infected Areas, At Risk Areas and Potentially Free Areas) to counties (or unitary authorities or metropolitan authorities). Counties will be classified in one of three categories: High Risk Counties (HRC), At Risk Counties (ARC) and FMD Free counties (FC). Farm to farm movements will be allowed for cattle, sheep (and goats and camelids) and pigs in all three categories of county, with different controls depending on the degree of risk involved.

HIGH RISK COUNTIES

Animals in these counties can only move within the HRC or the specific Infected Area (IA) that they are in. They cannot move into an IA if they are ilocated inside the HRC but outside the IA. They cannot move out of an IA if they are located inside the IA (which is inside the HRC).

AT RISK COUNTIES (ARC)

Animals located within an ARC can move within that ARC or to another ARC. They cannot move to a Free County (FC) or to a HRC.

FREE COUNTIES (FC)

Animals located within a FC can move within that county, to another FC or to another ARC.

Classification of counties, unitary authorities and metropolitan districts

Durham, Northumberland, North Yorkshire (excluding the district of Selby), Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland, Bradford District, Gateshead District, Leeds District and Sunderland District - HIGH RISK.

Kirklees District, Newcastle Upon Tyne, North & South Tyneside - AT RISK.

North Yorkshire County (Selby only), York & East Riding of Yorkshire - FREE.

From October 16, the following counties/unitary authorities and metropolitan districts will be grouped together and considered as a single unit.

High Risk County for Autumn Movement purposes: a) Northumberland, Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside; b) Durham, Gateshead District, South Tyneside, Darlington, Sunderland, Hartlepool & Stockton on Tees; c) North Yorkshire (excluding Selby), Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland, Bradford District & Leeds District.

- Application forms are available from the DEFRA website, the National Movement Helpline and NFU offices.

SOLE OCCUPANCY LICENCES

The new occupational licence was made available from Monday, October 8. The key elements of the new licence are:

Before a licence will be granted, a producer will need to define the group of premises, which must be in the producer's sole occupancy. The premises must already be epidemiologically linked and managed together. This does not preclude land that has been rented for management purposes, provided that it is included in the application for the licence. The premises must be within a 20km diameter circle and must be in counties within the same disease status or within the same Infected Area.

All movements must be made by a vehicle under the licence holder's control or approved for farm-to-farm movements, except for cattle and sheep which may move on hoof a maximum 0.5km by road, provided they do not pass land or buildings in another producer's ownership or control. All vehicles used must be cleaned and disinfected after each movement and, where animals move by hoof, the road must be cleansed and disinfected. Producers must keep records of all movements made.

Licences will only be granted after a Local Veterinary Inspector (LVI) has visited the farm to check the biosecurity on the common management and control of the group of premises covered by the licence. The LVI will also check the vehicles and C&D facilities. In some cases the LVI may place restrictions on the number and frequency of movements between the premises.

Movements under the occupational licence will not require serology or C&D at approved centres.

All premises covered by an occupational licence will be treated as one premises for the 21-day standstill restriction, ie a standstill will only apply when animals are moved on to any of the premises covered by the licence from a holding not covered by the licence.

- Sole Occupancy Licences will be issued by your Local Veterinary Inspector and processed by DEFRA (not Trading Standards). Your first call should be made to your local vet.

- None of these schemes apply to premises under any FMD restriction. Contact your DEFRA divisional veterinary manger for further information.

- Newcastle Disease Emergency Control Centre: (0191) 2145011.

- Leeds Disease Emergency Control Centre: (0113) 2300100

Updated: 09:28 Thursday, October 11, 2001