2007年VOA标准英语-Europe to Lift British Livestock and Meat Ban W

By Tom Rivers
London
23 August 2007

Vigilance and early containment¹ of foot and mouth disease in Britain have paid off as European vets² agree to lift the export ban on British meat and livestock³. For VOA, Tom Rivers in London has details.

Ruptured4 oral vesicle in a cow with foot-and-mouth disease" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070831/1112470.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

A ruptured oral vesicle in a cow with foot and mouth disease

The outbreak of foot and mouth disease on August 3 sent a shudder⁵ through Britain's agricultural community.

Back in 2001, the highly contagious⁶ disease decimated the British industry and recovery then was costly⁷ and slow.

Mindful of the mistakes of the past, the response this time was rapid.

The disease was confined to two farms in Surrey County, south of London and British government scientists say the chances of further cases showing up now are "very slim."

Meeting in Brussels Thursday, veterinary experts from all 27 European Union states have agreed that the current ban on British exports can be lifted, effective August 25.

Britain's deputy chief veterinary officer, Fred Landeg says it's a victory for speedy containment.

"From the moment the decision comes into effect, Great Britain, other than the existing protection-surveillance zone, we will be able to export health-marked, in the community meat, meat products and we will also be able to export live animals under strict veterinary rules," he said.

That exclusion⁸ area is a ten-kilometer zone around the two farms where the disease broke out. Meanwhile, an investigation⁹ into the source of the outbreak, thought to be from a nearby site containing an animal testing lab and pharmaceutical¹⁰ firm, continues.

While the ban is lifted on Saturday, Landeg says a few more days will be required for livestock to be shipped to the European continent.

"With respect to live animals, this was a better decision than we had hoped," he added.  "There will be some administrative¹¹ measures to put in place in terms of certification before animals can be exported under these strict rules there has to be a three-day notice period."

If no more cases of foot-and-mouth show up, the EU is expected to give all of Britain, including the current surveillance zone in Surrey county, the export all clear by mid-September.

Britain exports more than $2 million worth of meat and animal products around the world every week.

1 containment   

n.阻止，遏制；容量

参考例句：

• Your list might include such things as cost containment,quality,or customer satisfaction.你的清单上应列有诸如成本控制、产品质量、客户满意程度等内容。
• Insularity and self-containment,it is argued,go hand in hand.他们争论说，心胸狭窄和自我封闭是并存的。

2 vets   

abbr.veterans （复数）老手，退伍军人；veterinaries （复数）兽医n.兽医( vet的名词复数 )；老兵；退伍军人；兽医诊所v.审查（某人过去的记录、资格等）( vet的第三人称单数 )；调查；检查；诊疗

参考例句：

• I helped train many young vets and veterinary nurses too. 我还帮助培训了许多年青的兽医和护士。 来自互联网
• In fact, we've expanded mental health counseling and services for our vets. 实际上，我们已经扩大了退伍军人的心理健康咨询和服务。 来自互联网

3 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。

4 ruptured   

v.（使）破裂( rupture的过去式和过去分词 )；（使体内组织等）断裂；使（友好关系）破裂；使绝交

参考例句：

• They reported that the pipeline had ruptured. 他们报告说管道已经破裂了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The wall through Berlin was finally ruptured, prefiguring the reunification of Germany. 柏林墙终于倒塌了，预示着德国的重新统一。 来自辞典例句

5 shudder   

v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动

参考例句：

• The sight of the coffin sent a shudder through him.看到那副棺材，他浑身一阵战栗。
• We all shudder at the thought of the dreadful dirty place.我们一想到那可怕的肮脏地方就浑身战惊。

6 contagious   

adj.传染性的，有感染力的

参考例句：

• It's a highly contagious infection.这种病极易传染。
• He's got a contagious laugh.他的笑富有感染力。

7 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

8 exclusion   

n.拒绝，排除，排斥，远足，远途旅行

参考例句：

• Don't revise a few topics to the exclusion of all others.不要修改少数论题以致排除所有其他的。
• He plays golf to the exclusion of all other sports.他专打高尔夫球，其他运动一概不参加。

9 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

10 pharmaceutical   

adj.药学的，药物的；药用的，药剂师的

参考例句：

• She has donated money to establish a pharmaceutical laboratory.她捐款成立了一个药剂实验室。
• We are engaged in a legal tussle with a large pharmaceutical company.我们正同一家大制药公司闹法律纠纷。

11 administrative   

adj.行政的，管理的

参考例句：

• The administrative burden must be lifted from local government.必须解除地方政府的行政负担。
• He regarded all these administrative details as beneath his notice.他认为行政管理上的这些琐事都不值一顾。