Review Of Ban On U.K. Horse Imports

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31588, 27 January 1968, Page 1

Review Of Ban On U.K. Horse Imports

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 26. If the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Britain continues to recede, consideration will be given in a few weeks time to allowing the import of horses, dogs and cats which have been in quarantine in Britain.

Announcing this tonight, the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Taiboys) said that there had been a total prohibition on imports of all animals from Britain since the outbreak of the disease. On the advice of New Zealand’s advisers in Britain, this prohibition had included animals such as horses, catsi

and dogs, which were not themselves susceptible to the disease. Some countries were now lifting the ban on such animals and in consultation with the British authorities, New Zealand would consider a similar move, provided assurances could be given that no danger existed with the animal or with the fodder that would accompany it. The Minister said that any relaxation of the prohibition order would apply only to animals in quarantine stations outside infected areas. There was no likelihood of any early lifting of the prohibition on the movement of either cloven-hoofed animals or their semen.