Surely the 6-day standstill is enough to reduce the risk of disease spread?
A. The 20 day standstill that was in place immediately after foot and mouth disease was reduced to 6 days only when the livestock industry committed to improve biosecurity standards. Although the animals are subject to standstill requirements, people and vehicles who come into contact with them aren’t. People can transfer disease causing agents from animals gatherings to livestock on both farm vehicles and their person. Industry representative organisations have been consulted on all the detail of the livestock movement and market and show controls and have signed up to the steps that must be taken.
