Brussels, 16/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - In giving its approval to the lifting of the last restrictive measures imposed on the United Kingdom, the EU's Standing Veterinary Committee (SVC) confirmed that the foot and mouth epidemic was not at an end in Europe. European experts suspended the last measures banning exports of pigmeat and bovine meat affecting Northumberland. Deliveries of live sheep and goats, however, remain banned throughout the territory, as well as live cattle due to BSE-related measures. In the United Kingdom, 2030 outbreaks of foot and mouth have been recorded since February 2001 and over four million animals have been slaughtered in 9,867 slaughterhouses and farms. Furthermore, on the subject of classical swine fever in Spain, the SVC agreed to allow, under certain conditions, the transport to slaughter-yards (for marketing) of pigs located on farms still under surveillance. This is to prevent health problems resulting from the prolonged standstill of the animals.