LONDON, U.K. — Britain’s High Court paved the way for a full legal challenge to the government’s policy of culling healthy animals as part of efforts to end a foot-and-mouth epidemic.
The court stopped short of ordering the government to halt the slaughter of uninfected animals, but ruled that a hearing should proceed as a matter of urgency. Organic farmer Peter Kindersley and two other farmers who led the challenge say vaccination is the only way to stop the disease from destroying farming, tourism and other countryside industries.
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The court’s decision to start a hearing this week came as farmers called on the government to make up its mind over whether to start vaccinating livestock against foot-and-mouth.
Prime minister Tony Blair met farm leaders earlier to discuss ways of halting the highly infectious disease, which has hit more than 700 sites in Britain and found footholds in France, Ireland and the Netherlands.
After the ruling, a spokesperson for Blair said the government would defend the policy in court.
“We would contest any case vigorously and argue strongly that these aren’t healthy animals. They are animals that have been exposed to infection,” the spokesperson said.
The National Farmers’ Union said a policy of allowing no more than 24 hours to elapse between disease identification and slaughter had reduced a huge backlog of animals due to be culled, but a speedy decision was needed on vaccination.
“There are some encouraging signs but we are still in a very, very serious situation and there are still major problems in Cumbria, which must be tackled urgently,” NFU president Ben Gill said.
“No firm decision has yet been taken on whether limited use of vaccination should be made but we are pressing for a decision to be taken as soon as possible so that farmers know where they stand.”
Britain’s efforts to combat the disease have so far relied entirely on slaughtering animals, which are then incinerated or buried.
Many farming experts have criticized the government’s tactics, saying delays in culling and then in dealing with carcasses have allowed the virus to spread and have revolted an increasingly anti-meat population.
Foot-and-mouth, which affects cloven-hoofed animals, can spread on vehicle tires, clothing and by the wind. It rarely strikes humans.
Experts have called repeatedly for vaccination — a policy opposed by officials from the start due to the impact on exports were Britain to lose its disease-free status.
But Gill said any decision on vaccination had to be taken with farmers’ agreement.
“We stressed once more that local farmers must be involved in this decision-making process and we understand (agriculture minister) Nick Brown is to travel to these areas for this to happen,” Gill said.
“I stress again, vaccination is not a miracle cure for this disaster. It is not like a jab against measles where you are protected for life. If it is used, it will merely buy us time and dampen down the infection in key areas.”
