Breaking News: Foot and Mouth Temporary Control Zone put in place on Romney Marsh

1.57.36pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 14th Aug 2007

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) have this morning announced a 3km radius Temporary Control Zone has been put on Romney Marsh, following a suspected case of Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) on a farm in the Romney Marsh area. Kent Trading Standards Officers are working with DEFRA, and a vet has taken samples for formal analysis: results are not expected until later today at the earliest.

This precautionary measure follows an inconclusive assessment of clinical symptoms by Animal Health veterinary staff. The national movement ban remains in place. In addition, in the Temporary Control Zone, general licences will not apply for the movement of animals to slaughter and collection of dead animals from farms.

Debby Reynolds, Chief Veterinary Officer, said:

"The containment and eradication of Foot and Mouth Disease remains our priority. This is why we have moved swiftly to put in place a Temporary Control Zone while we investigate this development in Kent. At this stage disease has not been confirmed, laboratory results will follow."

Information on the latest situation on the Food and Mouth Disease outbreak can be found on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth