Farron calls for import clampdown after Scottish Bluetongue case

3.00.00pm GMT Wed 9th Jan 2008

Liberal Democrat Countryside spokesman Tim Farron is calling today on DEFRA to put tighter controls on imported livestock from areas infected with the Bluetongue virus. In some cases, that may mean a ban.

This comes after a farm in Dumfries and Galloway was found to have an infected cow which had been imported from Bremen in Germany, while other infected imported animals have been discovered in Middlesbrough and Worcester.

Tim Farron said:

"The last thing the farming community needs is to be bringing the virus into their herds after it had largely disappeared with the cold weather. The Government and DEFRA in particular needs to show a bit of responsibility here and introduce a tougher regime of controls on imports from infected areas."