Originally from: Mary Critchley
                        
Warmwell.com – http://www.warmwell.com

Saturday 23rd February

Feb 23 ~ They have been slaughtering antibody positives all Autumn/Winter, and no-one has batted much of an eyelid. So why is Kirby Stephen suddenly news?

A cynic might say that someone is hoping this news catches the eye of the Judges as they sip their coffee this weekend, and refreshes their enthusiasm for their original fear. The impression we got from those who attended the High Court last week was that the judges believe it is vitally important that lessons are learned quickly, because of constantly repeated government warnings that the disease "could flare up again at any moment" and that the Government needs to be ready for when it does. ( They seem to think that only Dr Anderson's Lessons Learned can report in the short term.)

But why should there be any question of the disease flaring up again? Has not the OIE on its updated list of FMD free countries reported that "The OIE Foot and Mouth Disease and Other Epizootics Commission evaluated documentation concerning the eradication of foot and mouth disease, submitted by the Delegate of United Kingdom, and, in accordance with Resolution No. XVII .... this country has regained its previously recognised FMD-free status without vaccination."

Could what the Government told the OIE differ in some way from what it has told the High Court?

 If the OIE has heard enough to be satisfied that FMD has been fully eradicated by the slaughter policies why should the Government encourage the Court to think there might be a flare up? If the judges are led to believe a flare up is about to happen the Judicial Review would be done for. However, as long as no outbreak is confirmed the OIE will not step in and take away our regained status so the government would be doubly delighted.

(The page has links to the documents mentioned at the OIE)