Scotland lets some abattoirs resume despite disease

LONDON, Aug 7 (Reuters) Some Scottish abattoirs should be able to resume slaughtering livestock on a controlled basis from tomorrow in an easing of restrictions imposed after an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in England, officials said today.

The measure applies only in Scotland, not in the rest of mainland Britain. The devolved Scottish government has competence to take decisions on animal health issues.

A licensing system will be used and only cattle, sheep and pigs from Scottish premises will be permitted to be moved to abattoirs, the Scottish executive said in a statement.

Movement of livestock for all other purposes except slaughter will continue to be banned.

The easing of restrictions was taken on the advice of Scotland's chief veterinary officer following consultation with his counterparts elsewhere in Britain.

''We are taking this very limited step, based on the veterinary assessment of risk, that will give the green light for at least part of Scotland's meat industry to get up and running again,'' Scotland's cabinet secretary for rural affairs and the environment, Richard Lochhead, said.

''All other restrictions in the movement ban still apply and will be enforced,'' he said.

Britain confirmed a second outbreak of foot and mouth disease in a herd of cattle in southern England on Tuesday, raising fears that the highly damaging animal disease may spread.

REUTERS AE MSJ RAI2336