UK – Representatives from the UK, Dutch and Belgian governments attended an international conference in Brussels this week week to discuss tackling any future outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

National Farmers’ Union (NFU) president Ben Gill was one of the delegates who attended the conference organised by the European Commission. Since the UK outbreak the NFU has called for detailed contingency plans to enable authorities to better prepare for any future outbreak.

Gill pressed for further research into the disease, with improved diagnostics and epidemiological methods high on the agenda. He also called for measures to be stepped up to prevent illegal imports of contaminated meat and animals entering the European Union.

“The UK experience in battling with the disease must be shared fully with the rest of Europe so that we can all learn the lessons for the future should, heaven forbid, we ever be struck again,” he said.