Jersey barred from cattle exports over disease testing

Channel Island farmers are unable to send cows to the UK until they meet EU regulations on disease control.

Jersey States vets are working to prove that the herd has been disease-free for many years.

Changes to the live cattle import rules between Jersey and the UK in October 2013 meant exports were banned until the island complied with EU disease testing rules.

Meeting the testing requirements will cost Jersey £542,617 over five years.

It will be at least six months before the testing procedure can be put in place and exports allowed to resume.

Between 50 and 100 heifers in calf are sent from the island each year.

Jersey's Director of Rural Economy, Daniel Houseago, said in a report that the impact of not carrying out the tests would cost the dairy industry about £4.8m over the next five years.