A NEW licence scheme has been launched to help non-infected farms near confirmed foot-and-mouth outbreaks move livestock.

The lifeline will allow farmers move their animals to fresh grazing areas even if they are under a 'Form D' notice within a three-kilometre restriction zone.

This new licence will be administered in the region by the Animal Health Divisional Office in Newcastle and has been welcomed by the National Farmers' Union in the region.

Movement will be allowed under a number of conditions and the destination premises must be free of livestock unless any animals there are under the same ownership.

A request for a licence would see a Maff vet visit the farm to assess the situation, the proposed movements and the method of transferring the livestock, while the transfer of the livestock would be supervised.

NFU North-East policy advisor Jonathan Birnie said: "We definitely need to have grazing access for animals."

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