No panic buying of meat in UK despite cattle disease

By Nigel Hunt

LONDON (Reuters) - There has been no panic buying of meat in Britain despite a nationwide ban on livestock movements following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, retailers said on Monday.

"We've got contingency plans but stock levels are looking good at the moment," a spokeswoman for retailer ASDA, a unit of Wal-Mart Stores, said.

Britain imposed a ban on all livestock movement, including transport to abattoirs, after a strain of the disease was confirmed in a herd in Surrey in southern England on Friday.

"If we are not able to slaughter livestock within a week it will become increasingly difficult to source British product," Stuart Roberts, Director of the British Meat Processors Association, said in a statement.

Strong demand for meat was seen over the weekend but it did not reflect stockpiling by consumers sparked by fears of a possible shortage, the ASDA spokeswoman said.

"It wasn't panic buying as we didn't see people buying large volumes in one transaction. People were just buying burgers and sausages and steaks for the barbecue," she said.

Tesco also downplayed concerns.

"We don't see any particular problem. We have a robust supply chain," a spokesman said.

"There has been no stockpiling, no panic buying," he said.

Guy Attenborough, spokesman for Britain's Meat and Livestock Commission, said it was possible the UK goverment may indicate when the ban on movement might be lifted as early as Tuesday.

"They want to get a handle on how far the disease has spread before they allow any movement," he said.

He did not anticipate a supply shortage and called on retailers not to turn to imported supplies.

"We are requesting retailers to be sensible in sourcing," he said.

Attenborough said there was a shortlived dip in demand for meat, particularly lamb, during the last foot and mouth outbreak in Britain in 2001 linked to prolonged and extensive television coverage of burning carcasses did not expect a repeat this time.

"We don't anticipate any drop in consumer demand," he said.