Dear Member

Information issued by BAS/BLS Welfare Health and Committee - 28 September 2007

Movement of llamas, alpacas and all other camelids

There are THREE zones in place at this time:

· Risk Zone

· Low Risk Zone

· Bluetongue Zone.

The Risk and Low Risk Zones are in relation to Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

The Bluetongue Zone is, as it says, for the control of Bluetongue.

The Bluetongue Zone does overlap into the Risk and Low Risk Zones thus making it more complicated!!

Risk Zone for FMD

As far as camelids are concerned, the Risk Zone remains a total shutdown zone. Defra and Animal Health, and the enforcing agency Trading Standards, will rigorously enforce the no-movement of susceptible animals in this area. The counties covered by this are: Essex, Kent, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Greater London.

Low Risk Zone for FMD

The Low Risk Zone is a bit more relaxed; you can undertake certain movements subject to certain conditions being met first. It covers the rest of Britain, with the exception of the Risk Zone and the Bluetongue Zone.

1. You will need to print off, fill in and keep for 6 months the self-issuing licence - link: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/pdf/gl-movement-450-270907.pdf. You will need to fill this in and have it signed by both parties - one for the premises of departure, and one for the premises of arrival. (Both need to be kept for 6 months).
2. Your vehicle and trailer/van will need to be cleaned and disinfected prior to collection of the animals.
3. You will need to have a valid movement Licence as issued by the SVS prior to the FMD shut down. These licences allow you to transport livestock on journeys of up to 64kms(Type 1), or all journeys including over 8 hours (Type 2). You will need the correct one.
4. You must be wearing clean clothes, clean and washed/disinfected boots; washable protective clothing for loading and unloading. These will need to be washed down and disinfected just prior to departure so that you do not carry any faeces or other animal waste with you.
5. The journey must not be broken. You may not stop and drop off or pick up from another premises.
6. The animals must be taken directly to the receiving premises.
7. On arrival at the receiving farm, you must unload and then thoroughly wash out and disinfect your vehicles, clothing and boots. It is said you must wash/shower as well!
8. Once you have unloaded the animals you cannot now move any susceptable animals from the receiving premises for 20 days. This is the 20-day standstill. You can bring more animals on to the departure premises, but this will start a 20-day standstill from your premises.
9. Do not be tempted to move animals off or on to premises whilst under a 20-day standstill.

Bluetongue Zone/FMD Low Risk Zone

The same rules apply here as for the FMD Low Risk Zone, except you can not move outside the Bluetongue Zone.

So, if you want to move from a farm in the Bluetongue Zone/FMD Low Risk Zone to another farm in the Bluetongue Zone/FMD Low Risk Zone that is fine, as long as you comply with the conditions above.

If you want to move from a Bluetongue Zone/FMD Low Risk Zone to a FMD Low Risk Zone this is NOT ALLOWED.

If you are in Bluetongue Zone/FMD Risk Zone then you cannot move anything.

The anomaly though is that you can move from an FMD Low Risk Zone to a Bluetongue Zone/FMD Low Risk Zone, as long as you comply with the conditions of movements as listed above. It is not recommended that you do this as you are taking your animals into a potentially risky area, where they may become stuck for a long period of time.

Although the details above are thought to be accurate, you are advised to check that they are up-to-date and accurate before making any movements. The BAS/BLS Health and Welfare Sub committee cannot and will not be held responsible if the information is incorrect.

The BAS/BLS Health & Welfare Sub Committee recommends that you check your animals at least twice a day and if you have any concerns, that you contact your local Animal Health office.

Brenda Birmingham, Secretary - British Llama Society
Lower Braundsworthy, Shebbear, Beaworthy, Devon EX21 5TB
t: 01409 231704 e: llamarati@aol.com or Secretary@BritishLlamaSociety.com