Pat's note: All fits the fundermentals of the "Gardiner Hypothosis"
that most recent animal and human epidemics in Britain and sometimes
abroad are the direct result of corruption within Britain's State
Veterinary Service.

The details going back to very early 2001 may be found on the
newsgroup  uk.business.agriculture searchable through Google Groups.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article4340286.ece

From The TimesJuly 16, 2008

TB panic leads to new ban on export of British cattle

Dutch and Belgian farmers impose restrictionsV
alerie Elliott, Countryside Editor 

Farmers are braced for a new ban on live cattle exports to the
Continent after British-reared calves sent to the Netherlands were
found to have bovine TB.

Furious Dutch farmers have imposed their own commercial ban after 12
calves imported to veal production farms in March tested positive for
the disease. The country has been free of the disease since 1999 and
the Dutch Agriculture Ministry is said to be appalled at the breach of
biosecurity.

Unofficially, Belgian farmers are also refusing to take British calves
and adult cattle. Exporters fear that a complete ban on the trade of
live cattle throughout the EU could be in force by next week.

Kim Haywood, the director of the National Beef Association, said:
“People are very worried about possible loss of exports because we are
just approaching the main three-month season for export of calves for
veal production. Following the BSE crisis, the market only started at
the end of 2006 but since then we have slowly been recovering markets.
It could be a catastrophe for the industry. If this issue builds
momentum in Europe, the consequences could be dire. This is all down
to the Government’s inability to control bovine TB.”

The National Farmers’ Union, working with British officials in
Brussels, is pressing for any bans to remain voluntary. Britain is
offering safeguards on future trade with the Netherlands and Belgium
to ensure that exports can continue. There is concern that if
veterinary experts on the EU animal health committee impose a ban on
British calves and cattle, it could take months for it to be lifted.

Calves were sent to the Netherlands to be fattened for veal from a
dairy farm in March. The farm, which has not been identified, was
clear of bovine TB at the time. Under trade rules there is no
requirement for calves aged up to 42 days to be tested to show they
are free of the disease before export. During a routine test for TB at
the farm in May at least one infected cow was found.

As is normal in disease outbreaks, all animals that had moved from the
farm in the previous 60 days were traced and tested. Government vets
learnt then that a number had been sent to the Netherlands.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
informed the Dutch authorities about the possibility of TB infection
on May 22. The animals have since been traced and 27 Dutch farms are
under restriction pending testing and results.

The Dutch Farmers’ Union is angry that it was informed about the
outbreak only this week. Its members are boycotting British cattle and
calves.

The incident is particularly embarrassing for the Government and
Hilary Benn, the Rural Affairs Secretary, who rejected last week any
cull of badgers to control the disease.

The NFU believes that the Government’s stance is in breach of rules
that require countries to adopt an EU eradication plan for bovine TB.
The disease is most widespread in Britain and the Irish Republic but
neither has submitted a formal plan to Brussels.

A Defra spokeswoman confirmed last night that the Chief Veterinary
Officer had been told of the infections by Dutch veterinary surgeons.
She added that all exports had been in compliance with EU trade rules.

Beef exports have been patchy since the BSE crisis. Britain could
export 500,000 calves a year for veal production. Last year only
64,000 were exported, in a market worth £4.5 million; 37,000 went to
the Netherlands.

-- 
Regards
Pat Gardiner
Release the results of testing British pigs for MRSA and C.Diff now!
www.go-self-sufficient.com