The 12-strong committee is witnessing the devastation caused by the disease, and speaking to people affected by the crisis.

The committee is preparing its report for November

The committee is preparing a report to be published in November.

Plaid Cymru's Eurig Wyn and Jonathan Evans, leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament, are both members of the inquiry team.

The trip has already included a visit to Welshpool livestock market and a meeting with the presidents of NFU Cymru.

On Thursday, the delegation addresses a public meeting in Builth Wells before visiting a Sennybridge disposal site.

The delegation, led by Spanish MEP Encarnacion Redondo Jimenez, will then move on to Devon and Gloucestershire as part of the four-day fact-finding trip.

Jonathan Evans MEP: 'Next best thing' to UK inquiry

The committee's report may offer the only opportunity for documentary evidence to be published, as such evidence can not be presented to a British-based parliamentary inquiry.

"We would much prefer a full public inquiry, but that has been refused," said Mr Evans.

"This is the next best thing."

Mr Evans also stressed that the trip was not the only opportunity for people can provide evidence to the committee - the delegates will also look at letters or emails that are sent to them.

"We are trying to visit as many areas that were affected, to draw attention to that," added Mr Evans.

'Moral injustice'

Ian Mitchell, head of Powys Business campaign, was among those presenting evidence to the committee.

He said it was a way of passing on the sense of "moral injustice in the countryside".

The virus had a huge impact in Wales

"We will be giving a profile of the type of businesses which have suffered - mainly small, family businesses.

"We would like to get across that it was a disaster watiting to happen.

"The warning signs were there and, when the disaster arrived, the reaction was slow and inadequate.

"We are looking to the future and we have to be sure it can not happen again and we are not sure that is the case."

The European Parliament's Temporary Committee on foot-and-mouth met for the first time at the European Parliament in Brussels in February.