LIVESTOCK farmers will have greater scope to move animals between their own premises from tomorrow.

The local movements will still require a licence, but these can be given by local veterinary inspectors.

Baroness Hayman, minister of state at MAFF, said it was another step to improve animal welfare for livestock trapped on farms because of foot-and-mouth restrictions.

"Our first priority remains disease control but we continue to seek veterinary advice on whether there are changes which can be made to simplify the schemes in place and ease the welfare problems which result from foot-and-mouth restrictions," she said.

From Monday, healthy animals from surveillance zones have been able to be slaughtered for human consumption.

A dedicated team of MAFF vets, supported by six ADAS technicians and two RSPCA inspectors has been set up at the intervention board in Newcastle to prioritise such cases.

The RSPCA has also allocated 80 inspectors to work helping local authorities and MAFF on the ground, providing a brokerage service for feed supplies and advising farmers on managing welfare issues.

The Animal Health Division Office based in Newcastle will administer the special licence arrangement for welfare movements for farms under Form D restrictions in Durham, Cleveland, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear.

Farmers wanting to use the scheme should contact 0191 214 5011 and ask for the Form D licensing section.

A mail shot of application forms to farmers in affected premises will also be made. Completed forms or requests for forms can be faxed on 0191 271 3369.

The scheme allows livestock movements under licence within the protected 3km zones on certain conditions.

o no FMD investigations are going on in the zone

o 15 days have passed since the infected farm has had the preliminary disinfection

o the movement must be to another grazing area in the same 3km zone

o if the farm is in more than one protection zone, animals can be moved no further than 6km as the crow flies

o the destination premises must be free of livestock unless any livestock are in the same occupancy, management and control as the sending premises

o livestock cannot be moved to land which is under Form A restrictions.

A MAFF vet will visit the farm, to assess the licence situation, the proposed movements and method of transferring the livestock.

The movement of stock will be done under supervision.

Ends.