Toronto Star

May. 14, 2001. 07:46 AM

Eco-terrorists linked to foot-mouth outbreak
British, U.S. farm groups say these groups can't be ruled out

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Eco-terrorists may be behind the rash of foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks across the globe, two prominent agriculture leaders warned today.

The heads of both the U.S. and British farming groups said opponents to intensive forms of agriculture could not be ruled out as the source of disease outbreaks.

Ben Gill, president of the United Kingdom's National Farmers' Union, in Canberra for a farmers' conference, said Australia should maintain its tough quarantine measures because of the threat of eco-terrorists.

''There's no doubt foot-and-mouth spread to the U.K. illegally and, unfortunately, we cannot rule out eco-terrorism,'' he said.

''The last thing you would want to do is ease your quarantine rules in Australia. If you can find a way to further tighten them, then do it.''

The head of the U.S. Farm Bureau, Bob Stallman, confirmed last week his organization had begun talks with the Federal Bureau of Investigation into possible eco-terrorist activity.

Stallman said there were activists encouraging the introduction of foot-and-mouth into the United States to protest against intensive agriculture.

A rash of foot-and-mouth outbreaks have been recorded across the globe over the past three years, most linked to the Asian strain of the disease.

Gill said Australia would have to contend with increasingly militant green splinter groups which would stop at nothing to undermine existing agricultural practices.

''The pressures of the green groups are intense in Europe, and what I understand, building here in Australia,'' he said.

Australia immediately increased its quarantine restrictions when the foot-and-mouth outbreak erupted in Britain in February.

Tougher inspections at ports and airports, and bans on meat, livestock and used agricultural equipment were introduced.

Gill said he would campaign to have Australia's quarantine laws put in place in Europe.

''I have to say I wish we had your standards in Europe,'' he told reporters.

Millions of animals have been slaughtered in Britain in an attempt to stop the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2001