Bluetongue rules 'devastating' warning

Bluetongue restrictions placed on livestock moving from England to Wales will have a "devastating" impact on farmers, opposition politicians have warned.

From 1 July all cattle, sheep and goats being transported across the border will need to test negative for the disease before they can be moved into Wales.

While bluetongue has spread across large parts of England, it has yet to reach Wales this year and the Welsh government says its policy is aimed at holding the virus back "for as long as we can".

However, the farming industry has warned the implications of the decision could be "catastrophic" for cross-border trade.

The matter was raised during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday by Plaid Cymru MP for Caerfyrddin Ann Davies, who said Welsh farmers were "taking hit after hit".

"Over 550 farms on the border and key livestock markets rely on summer trading," she said, adding that the "disruption" caused by movement restrictions will be "devastating".

Davies called on the UK government to "work with the Welsh government on a scheme to compensate for losses".

In response, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner - standing in for the prime minister - said the UK government would make sure "that we support Wales and support Welsh farmers".

Spread by midges, bluetongue presents no threat to food safety or human health, but can be fatal for livestock, including sheep and cattle.

A restricted zone (RZ) in England - limiting the movement of animals - has continued to expand over recent months as the disease has spread.

The UK government has now decided to designate the whole of England as an RZ from 1 July, meaning an end to movement controls within England, prompting the Welsh government's response.

The restrictions, announced by Wales' Rural Affairs Secretary Huw Irranca-Davies, will see farmers have to obtain and pay for pre-movements tests and licenses for animals being moved from England to Wales.

The matter was debated in Cardiff Bay on Tuesday when Irranca-Davies told Members of the Senedd (MSs) that he had taken the "finely-balanced decision" to impose the limits because he "cannot and will not in all good conscience simply invite bluetongue into Wales".

Welsh Conservatives MS Andrew RT Davies said "this is a bit like telling a retailer, in the run-up to Christmas, that they can't get any of the goods that they need to help their customers get their presents".

The decision "puts the livestock industry here in Wales on the altar of stupidity," he added.

Plaid Cymru's rural affairs spokesman Llyr Gruffydd said Irranca-Davies had made "the wrong call".

"I have to say, 'where have you been?' We've known for months and months, if not years, that bluetongue is on its way," he added.

Welsh Liberal Democrats' leader Jane Dodds told the Senedd that "for farms on the border, many of which I represent...there is severe concern, severe stress on farmers".