The Conservative Party has backed calls from leading livestock producers in Scotland to ban imports of cattle and sheep from Europe following reports that a new strain of bluetongue (BTV6) has been confirmed in Holland.

Scottish Conservative rural affairs spokesperson John Scott has given his backing to NFU Scotland calls to ban imports of livestock from mainland Europe to protect the farming industry in Scotland.

Scott commented: “The situation with bluetongue is becoming more dangerous by the day, with the Scottish vaccine being effective against just one of the three bluetongue strains now threatening Scotland.

“I therefore believe our farmers now have little choice but to act responsibly and for the greater good of the whole livestock sector, and create a self-imposed ban on sheep and cattle imports from the continent. Ministers and their officials must also do what they can to support such a ban.”

New strain has emerged just a week before the Scottish Government's £4 million compulsory vaccination programme begins on Monday.

However, Scotland's vaccination programme only covers the BTV8 strain of the bluetongue virus, leaving animals at risk from the other two strains identified in mainland Europe.