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Foot and Mouth
06/09/2007
Tribute was today paid to all groups and organisation which helped Scotland respond rapidly and effectively to the foot and mouth outbreak in Surrey.
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead said enormous effort put in by officials headed by the chief veterinary officer Charles Milne enabled Scotland to act quickly to ease restrictions based on sound veterinary advice.
Addressing the Scottish Parliament, Mr Lochhead said:
"Scotland set the pace and was able to lift many of the restrictions ahead of the rest of Great Britain when it was safe to do so.
"Within the space of three weeks, we responded to a significant outbreak of notifiable disease.
"Furthermore, within those three weeks we were able to relax movement restrictions and restore export markets.
"Overall, I think Scotland has achieved much over the last month. This was a team effort of the highest order - industry and Government working together with a common goal."
Mr Lochhead said the GB movement ban - a recommendation from the 2001 outbreak - had been imposed within three hours after the disease was confirmed. He also praised the UK negotiating team and European Commission officials for their efforts in securing the early lifting of the export ban.
The Cabinet Secretary said:
"While there have been successes we must not be complacent. It will be our intention to learn from these events and to be even more prepared in the future. Today I can announce that the Scottish Government is commissioning an independent review into the Scottish response to foot and mouth disease.
"This review will be led by Professor Jim Scudamore who has extensive experience in the animal health field, having held the post of Chief Veterinary Officer to the UK Government, including during the 2001 outbreak, and before that, as Assistant Chief Veterinary Officer for Scotland.
"I intend the review to inform our contingency plan and to reflect on our experience in relation to this outbreak.
"I am also commissioning research into the economic impacts of the movement ban and the relaxations we were able to introduce. This is important in guiding our future response and ensuring our actions are proportionate.
"With this in mind I wish to give a vote of thanks to those most adversely affected by this outbreak. The farmers, auctioneers, hauliers, processors and every link in the livestock supply chain whose resilience, understanding and co-operation in the face of this crisis has been truly magnificent.
"They have responded to the restrictions with patience and understanding and I assure them today that the Scottish Government will do everything we can to support them at this challenging time for their industry.
"While there is a need to maintain the highest standards of biosecurity and to remain vigilant and alert to the threat of animal disease, there is no question that in the handling of this outbreak the Scottish Government has delivered the best outcome for the Scottish people."
Professor Jim Scudamore is currently a visiting professor at Liverpool University. He has a wide range of experience of state veterinary medicine at all levels. He retired in 2004 as the UK Government's Chief Veterinary Officer, having been in post during the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001. Before that he had undertaken a number of roles within the State Veterinary Service, including being Assistant Chief Veterinary Officer for Scotland. This post later became Chief Veterinary Officer for Scotland.). He is currently the consultant to the secretariat for the European Technology Platform for Global Animal Health.