World

EU Suspends Livestock Markets

March 6, 2001 / 2:55 PM EST / AP

European Union veterinary experts on Tuesday ordered all livestock markets closed for two weeks in the 15-nation bloc in an effort to contain foot-and-mouth disease.

The EU panel said livestock transports would be allowed between farms and direct to slaughterhouses, but all markets and gathering points for cattle, pigs and sheep would be banned.

The panel also extended until March 27 a ban on all exports of meat, livestock and milk products from Britain and said the tires of vehicles arriving from Britain to other EU nations must be disinfected.

The measures are set to come into force once they are formally adopted by the European Commission, a decision EU spokesman Gregor Kreuzhuber said would come this week.

Although no confirmed cases have been found outside Britain, the new restrictions reflected deep fears that the livestock virus could spread through herds in mainland Europe.

The curbs were approved despite Britain's message to the meeting that the outbreak of foot-and-month disease may be close to peaking.

"The information he gave was rather reassuring," said European Commission spokesman Thorsten Muench of a briefing by Britain's representative on the panel.

"The (British) authorities expect a peak today, tomorrow or through this week."

Several EU nations were pushing for tougher action. Italy had demanded a complete ban on all livestock movement across borders within the EU, but the panel of veterinary experts did not go that far.