F&M: Farmers to sue lab

2007-08-08 21:26

London - Angry British farmers are considering suing laboratory operators in Pirbright for millions of pounds in damages after an initial report into the cause of the foot-and-mouth outbreak suggested the virus might have escaped from their site, media reports said on Wednesday.

"I have spoken to many farmers over the last few days who are absolutely horrified that the source of this outbreak could be from Pirbright - and the suggestion in the findings that the disease could have been transferred, either accidentally or deliberately, by humans will only add to these concerns," said Peter Kendall, the president of the National Farmers' Union (NFU).

Many more questions still needed to be answered, Kendall said, adding, "We must study this report in more detail and await the results of the independent investigation."

An interim report released by the Health and Safety Executive on Tuesday night said there was a "strong probability" that the virus had escaped from the Pirbright research site, which houses both private US pharmaceutical company Merial Animal Health and the state- run Institute for Animal Health (IAH).

'The report does not rule out sabotage'

The investigation on Wednesday was concentrating on Merial amid concerns about the possibility of a waterborne release of the virus from its water treatment system.

While the IAH has been allowed to resume its operation, Merial was on Wednesday not allowed to continue working with live pathogens until further tests would have been completed.

The strongest likelihood remains that the disease was released due to human movements, although the report does not rule out sabotage.

Merial meanwhile issued a statement on Wednesday, saying it acknowledged the report and would continue to support the investigation, although it had not been able to establish any evidence that the virus might have been spread from its centre by humans.

"Over the last three and a half days we have conducted intensive internal investigations and, as a result, continue to have complete confidence in our processes and procedures for health, safety and environmental protection, quality control, quality assurance and regulatory compliance," Merial said.

Merial added, "To date, we have not been able to establish any evidence that the virus may have been transported out of our centre by humans."

The company also rejected suggestions that wastewater it released into the environment might have caused the outbreak.

The NFU estimates that British farmers are losing £1.8m a day as a result of the export ban on British meat.

So far two farms near the laboratory site in southern England have been affected, where a total of 214 animals have been culled. - Sapa-dpa

- SAPA