20 DAY RULE AND THE BLUE TONGUE VIRUS

Early day motion 1790, tabled 22 October 2002 by Paul Flynn (Labour). Signed by 16 members.

That this House is concerned at the possibility of an epidemic of Blue Tongue Virus that could decimate British farm animals; believes that the best way to restrict the spread of future infections of blue tongue, or vesicular stomatitis, foot and mouth and swine vesicular diseases is the 20 day rules on animal movements; notes that foot and mouth disease spreads more rapidly in Britain than in Ireland, France and the Netherlands because of the exposure of a million animals to the infection by animal movements, many of which were unnecessary or illegal; and further believes that unless the 20 day rule is strictly observed, future epidemics will be disastrously expensive and cause vast avoidable human and animal suffering.

Signatures by party: Labour 15, Liberal Democrat 1.