MSP’S REACTION TO STATEMENT ON FOOT AND MOUTH (Jim Hume)

MSP’S REACTION TO STATEMENT ON FOOT AND MOUTH

September 6, 2007 12:00 AM

Jim Hume, MSP for the South of Scotland, today pressed the case for Scottish produce during the Ministerial statement on foot and mouth disease. The MSP urged the Minister to address the issue of meat imports from parts of the world where foot and mouth disease is endemic and to support the use of Scottish produce.

Jim Hume said:-

"I welcomed the speed with which action was taken to deal with the outbreak when it was first announced.

"I took the opportunity today to stress to Richard Lochhead the need to address the problem of imports coming into Scotland from countries where there are concerns over its traceability and especially as some of these places such as South America have foot and mouth disease.

"I went on to press the case for the new Scottish Government to take measures which will encourage the use of local produce.

"The Scottish Government made a commitment to encouraging local food procurement within the public service during my Members' debate in June and there was no mention of this in yesterday's legislative programme so it's imperative that this is taken forward at policy level.

The MSP continued:-

"It's important also that a proper inquiry is carried out to establish how this outbreak occurred. Clearly there are serious biosecurity concerns.

"The Scottish farming industry is well known for the quality of its meat and dairy produce and our livestock producers strive hard to meet, and are successful, stringent working practices.

"It's therefore all the more galling that this recent outbreak was apparently caused by either human error or a breach of biosecurity.

"No one would wish to see a repeat of the horrific scenes of 2001 which saw more than 500,000 culled in Dumfries and Galloway alone and which devastated the South West of Scotland.

"The report from the Health and Safety Executive tomorrow will therefore be greatly anticipated by many".