Pressure was mounting yesterday for an EU clampdown on cattle exports from areas affected by bluetongue, following the discovery of an isolated case in Kirkcudbright last week.

It was led by the Scottish farms minister Richard Lochhead when he called for an urgent review of EU export controls in order to prevent the virus spreading.

Mr Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, wrote to Secretary of State Hilary Benn calling on his commitment to obtain a review of the robustness of existing safeguards, and to work with the European Union to tighten export rules.

Over the last three weeks, three consignments of animals transported to the UK from Bluetongue restricted zones in Europe have tested positive for the virus, the most recent being the Kirkcudbright case, one of 35 cattle imported to Scotland from Bremen in Germany.

Mr Lochhead said it was fortunate that the virus was picked up by the UK's strict post-import testing protocols.

But he went on: "It highlights some serious questions about the robustness and relevance of the current EU regulation and controls designed to prevent such animals being exported to disease-free areas.

"Scottish officials have been working closely with their UK counterparts on this issue. It is absolutely vital that a robust regime for the management of bluetongue is in place and that lessons from these incidents are learned at EU level. Scotland's livestock sector may pay a heavy price if the situation is not improved.

"The industry must have confidence in the rules governing the management of this virus and that we can satisfy ourselves that appropriate controls are in place.

"It continues to remain vital that livestock keepers consider carefully where they source their stock from.

"Thankfully, so far, Scotland remains free of bluetongue given that there is no evidence the virus is circulating and it is hoped the imported animal is an isolated case. However, our investigations into the Kirkcudbright case continue."

Under the EU Bluetongue Regulation, susceptible animals are permitted to move out of restricted zones into free areas, provided an official veterinarian of the exporting country certifies that all the necessary conditions have been met.

NFU Scotland, which had already made a plea for the industry to adhere to a voluntary ban, is now calling on the government to step in and officially ban these movements.

NFUS vice president Nigel Miller said: "This disease is too dangerous to give it the slightest opportunity to spread. Colder temperatures provide some protection but whilst we are still months away from having a vaccine, it is madness for this kind of trade to occur."