Veterinary leaders today demanded a public inquiry into the Government's handling of the foot-and-mouth crisis.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons said the Government must learn the lessons of the outbreak, which has led to the slaughter of more than three million animals.
But Ministers at the newly-created Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have so far failed to commit themselves to a full-scale inquiry.
The Royal College believes the epidemic has exposed weaknesses in the way the Government collects and uses scientific advice.
Its views are echoed by food safety expert Professor Hugh Pennington.
He said Ministers were simply not capable of understanding the information supplied.
He said actions based on ignorance of the disease could have been partly to blame for the scale of the epidemic.
The number of foot-and-mouth cases in the UK now stands at 1,744.
The vets' action follows the backing for a public inquiry by rural business leaders last night.
Read more about their action and other foot-and-mouth stories here.
Updated: 10.40 Friday, June 15
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