UK Resilience
Last updated: 28 October 2008
Animal health and welfare issues have been identified as a result of a variety of exotic animal diseases including Foot and Mouth Disease, various flooding incidents, issues arising from emergencies outside the UK such as Hurricane Katrina, as well as questions raised with Animal Health by local authorities and by Government Offices.
Exotic animal disease outbreaks (eg. Foot and Mouth Disease, Avian Influenza) are unique in that, for an outbreak in GB, both national and local responses are led by the lead Government Department (Defra, Welsh Assembly and Scottish Governments and their Animal Health agency) in close liaison with local responders such as local authorities, police forces and agencies such as the Health Protection and Environment Agencies. Details of the response are covered in the appropriate Exotic Animal Diseases contingency plans (see policy and guidance below).
In Northern Ireland, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) is the lead Department, with the functions of the HPA and EA being carried out largely by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) and the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) respectively.
Consultation on 2008 Defra's Contingency Plan for Exotic Animal Diseases [External website] In accordance with our legislative obligations under section 14a of the Animal Health Act 1981 Defra is inviting comments on the 2008 version of its Contingency Plan for Exotic Animal Diseases. The closing date for responses to this consultation is 10 October 2008.
Defra's Exotic Animal Disease Contingency Plan consists of:
This is complemented by those plans produced by devolved administrations.
For information on disease surveillance and control (including detailed information on different disease such as Food and Mouth, Avian Influenza and Rabies).
Defra policy on restrictions on public rights of way and access to open country is based on a clear principle that that there should be a presumption in favour of maintaining public access during an animal disease outbreak.
For information about the Rural Stress Action Plan, see the Needs of people – Health topic sheet.
For disposal of carcase issues, see the Dealing with waste topic sheet. In the event of an animal disease outbreak, there is a derogation to facilitate carcase disposal. The hierarchy is incineration, rendering and land-fill.
Guidance on Animal Welfare legislation and the responsibilities of animal owners and keepers.
Generic Animal Health & Welfare Pages also includes information on bringing pets to the UK, information on animal by-products and transport regulations.
Animal Health and Welfare is a devolved responsibility in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Great Britain is considered to be a single epidemiological unit from Ireland. Wales and Scotland have their own published contingency plans for exotic diseases, which complement that published by Defra. Animal health and welfare, disease control policy and strategy is developed and determined collectively by the UK administrations.
In Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government seeks to secure lasting improvements in the agriculture sector by protecting and improving the quality of Welsh stock and controlling and eradicating diseases. The Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer works closely with Animal Health and DEFRA on animal health and welfare.
The Welsh Exotic Animal Disease Contingency Plan provides the framework for the management and administrative structures that would be put into place in Wales in the event of a major outbreak of an infectious animal health disease. The Plan contains the generic structures, systems, lines of communication and decision making processes, which are common to the control of the exotic diseases.
Animal health and welfare policy is fully devolved to the Scottish Parliament, and Scottish Ministers will be responsible for determining the policy response to any animal disease emergency situation.
Given that disease knows no boundaries and that Great Britain is a single epidemiological unit, a co-ordinated disease control approach will be taken across Great Britain. The lead role in any disease outbreak in Scotland will be taken by SEERAD working in close partnership with stakeholders and operational partners.
Various Contingency plans that are in place are available on the Scottish Government website, and more will be added as they are finalised: Introduction and Animal health and welfare.
In Northern Ireland, epizootic disease response arrangements are detailed in the NI Generic Plan and National Health and Welfare Strategy.
This strategy document covers the period 2006-2011 and considers the health and welfare of both farm and domestic animals, including the all-island context of animal health and welfare as the island of Ireland is considered to be a single epidemiological unit.
Defra policy on restrictions on public rights of way and access to open country is based on a clear principle that that there should be a presumption in favour of maintaining public access during an animal disease outbreak. Northern Ireland (DARD) would also adopt this line where possible.
In Northern Ireland, DARD has a Memorandum of Understanding with a registered charity called Rural Support, which provides advice and a counselling service to farmers and other members of the rural community suffering stress associated with farming and/or the aftermath of an outbreak of epizootic disease – information about this organisation.
Details of the duties of people responsible for animal welfare are covered in the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The act and explanatory notes are available on the Defra website.
For the roles and responsibilities of those involved in exotic animal disease outbreaks, see the Defra Exotic Animal Diseases Contingency Plan.
In England, for issues relating to animals that occur as a result of other emergencies (ie. flooding, CBRN etc), contact should be made with the local Animal Health office (details below). They will advise or escalate within Animal Health/Defra for advice as appropriate. For carcase disposal, see the Dealing with waste topic sheet.
Local Authorities have a statutory duty (under the Animal Health Act) to enforce movement restrictions in the event of an exotic animal disease outbreak. In NI, this role falls to DARD, assisted by the Police Service of NI (PSNI).
Defra is the lead Government Department for exotic animal diseases. The appropriate lead Government Department will lead for other emergencies.
For exotic animal diseases, other government involvement is outlined in the Defra Exotic Animal Diseases contingency plan.
Defra would fund disposal of animal carcasses culled by Animal Health as part of an exotic disease control operation.
Defra helpline: 08459 335577
Email:helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Defra Duty Room: 0207 270 8960
Contacts in local Animal Health offices in Great Britain can be found on Defra website.
For useful contacts, see Scottish Government website.
Animal Health and Welfare,Scottish Government Rural Directorate
Tel: 0131 244 6015
Fax: 0131 244 6616
Website:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Home
Email:Animal.health@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Divisional Veterinary Offices can be contacted through the following link which gives both office and out of hours tel numbers.
General enquiries: Cabinet Office, 22 Whitehall, London SW1A 2WH.
Contact: via feedback form.
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