Foot-and-mouth outbreak confirmed

5.35.07pm GMT Wed 12th Sep 2007

Commenting on the confirmed outbreak of foot and mouth near Egham in Surrey, Liberal Democrat shadow environment food and rural affairs secretary Chris Huhne said:

"This is a deeply alarming development. It hits British livestock farmers at an even worse moment than before. September is critical as lambs are going for slaughter for home and export markets.

"It is crucial to identify quickly whether this strain of the virus was being worked on at Pirbright or matches the previous outbreak, and whether bio-security at the labs has failed again. If so, work should stop until there are fundamental improvements at the site.

"A nationwide ban on livestock movement is essential until we have the measure of the problem, but if it is once again likely that Pirbright is the source of the outbreak then Defra should look at early relaxation of the movement ban outside the areas at risk.

"Defra should also ensure this time that footpaths near the outbreak are closed immediately."