Foot and Mouth Disease

Access to CCW sites and to the Welsh countryside is open, despite a further outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) in Surrey.

Both Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government have stated that there is no need for people to stop visiting the countryside and, at the present time, the only impacts on visitor attractions are those which result from the restrictions on animal movements and animal gatherings.

Current veterinary advice is that outside of a Protection Zone where an outbreak has occurred, the risk of visitors to the countryside spreading the disease is low. Any decision to close public rights of way and access land will only be taken where it is clearly necessary to do so.

CCW advises visitors to observe any local bio-security measures that have been put in place.

To find out more details on the Welsh Assembly Government’s advice to both farmers and members of the public please use the link below:
Details

To find out more on the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in England please use the link to the Defra website:
Details

Impact of stock movement restrictions on compliance with S15, S16 and S39 agreements

Foot and Mouth Disease restrictions may cause owners and occupiers of land subject to an agreement to have difficulty in complying with the management prescriptions in the Agreed Management Plan (AMP) that forms part of their agreement. Under the current circumstances, any non-compliance with a management agreement as a direct consequence of the restrictions on movements of stock will not be regarded as a breach of that agreement.

It will therefore be possible for agreement holders to seek approval to allow the management prescriptions of a management agreement to be suspended or amended to help overcome any difficulties they may be facing. Land managers requiring such an amendment should first contact their CCW Land Agent to seek approval."

Please let me know if you want me to follow up any aspect of this.

Farmers and landowners needing more specific advice should contact their respective Animal Health offices as follows:

Caernarfon: 01286 674144
Carmarthen: 01267 245400 night: 07000 780144
Cardiff: 029 20 768500
Defra Helpline: 0845 9335577