29/03/08
The UK livestock industry has taken a major leap forward in its
battle to recover export markets lost because of Foot and Mouth
Disease.
A campaign was launched by Defra, the British Pig Executive (BPEX)
and the English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX) and so far 10 countries
have agreed to re-open to trade with Britain.
The countries are
Algeria, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Phillippines,
Singapore, South Africa, Thailand and the USA. Hong Kong had already
restarted trade with Britain.
BPEX and EBLEX Export Manager Jean-Pierre Garnier, said: We are extremely pleased
with the progress we have made.
"We are also in advanced discussions
with 10 other key target markets including China, Japan, Korea,
Russia and the Ukraine with visits from foreign veterinary teams
planned in the near future.
"Veterinarians
from overseas are genuinely impressed by the thoroughness of the
UK approach to last year's FMD outbreak.
"The positive results
stemming from this programme provide a very good example of effective
collaboration between Defra and the meat and livestock industries."
Trade
within the EU restarted about three months ago and the latest agreements
follow on from the declaration by the OIE on 19 February that the
UK was FMD free.
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