Pirbright biosecurity breaches indefensible - NFU
7 September 2007
The NFU has described as `indefensible` the breaches of basic biosecurity safeguards which, as two official reports published today (Friday) have now confirmed, allowed the foot and mouth virus to escape from the research facility at Pirbright.
"I find it well-nigh incredible and quite indefensible that standards should have been as lax as these reports appear to reveal, given that those concerned were handling some of the most dangerous animal viruses on the planet", said NFU President, Peter Kendall.
"This outbreak has cost the British livestock industry tens of millions of pounds and it is inevitable that farmers, and many others, will be asking lawyers to consider the case for seeking compensation through the courts for the losses they have suffered.
"We are in discussion with our lawyers about the possibility of seeking legal redress on behalf of our members, and will be making a further announcement on that, once we have had a chance to digest these reports and their implications."
Mr Kendall said that Defra had done a very good job, in partnership with the industry, in containing and eradicating the disease and getting the livestock sector back to something like normal within the shortest possible time frame.
But he added: "This should never have been necessary. This was an outbreak that should never have happened.
"Pirbright is a vitally important research facility for the UK, society and the livestock industry. We will be participating in the Government's review of the regulatory and security arrangements at the site and will support whatever programme of actions and reinvestment that may be necessary to bring its biosecurity standards up to scratch."
