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ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE IN SCOTLAND - IMPLEMENTING THE ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE STRATEGY
3. Promoting Animal Health and Welfare
The Animal Health and Welfare Strategy is not principally about introducing a plethora of new activity. In many ways it is about being clearer about the programme of work which is already going on, ensuring that it is consistent with the principles behind the Strategy, and about identifying future work which will contribute to achieving our long term aims. The continuing development of the Implementation Plan with stakeholders will help to ensure that its directions and priorities reflect the needs of animal health and welfare in Scotland. This section explains much of the work that is already going on.
3.1
International trade
International trade in animals and animal products is of huge importance to Scotland and to the UK as a whole. Government facilitates this, and is responsible for negotiating export health certification conditions at the international level. These conditions are of central importance to the aims of Animal Health and Welfare Strategy. It is essential that animals coming into the country meet health standards, in order to protect public health; the health standards are also essential for animals being exported, as Scotland's and the UK's international reputation is dependent on our exports meeting these high standards. The concerted approach to promoting animal health and welfare through the Strategy and the Implementation Plans will help to raise our international reputation.
3.1.1 Border Inspection Posts
All live animals or animal products from Third Countries are inspected at Border Inspection Posts as they enter the EU. Live animals are inspected by SVS veterinary staff, animals products such as meat or semen and embryos are inspected by staff employed by Local Authorities. All Border Inspection Posts are subject to regular internal audit by the SVS and external audit by the Food and Veterinary Office of the European Commission.
3.1.2 Illegal imports
The exact cause of the 2001 outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is still not known - and probably never will be - but it is possible that it was linked to illegal imports of contaminated meat or meat products. As a consequence, there were many calls for more Government action to reduce the risks of disease entering in this way. In a country like the United Kingdom, heavily reliant on international trade, this is no easy task, but substantive work has been done to ensure that effective systems are in place to minimise the risk of entry and ensure that resources are most effectively targeted.
In 2002 an initial risk assessment was undertaken by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and SafetyCraft Ltd to estimate the risk of an FMD outbreak in GB as a consequence of illegally imported infected meat and animal products. This risk assessment was published in March 2003 (
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/illegali/risk/risk_assess.htm) as a work in progress. Its initial findings indicated a low but continuous risk of FMD entering the country in this way.
Following a Machinery of Government Review the enforcement responsibilities have been re-organised, with HM Customs and Excise being given the lead responsibility for detection and seizure of smuggled meat and other animal products at borders. Other activities to minimise the risk of animal disease entering the country through illegal imports include:
Ban on pigswill;
Collaboration with the Food Standards Agency on their "Step Change" project which aims to secure improvement in the co-ordination and delivery of Local Authority controls on legal meat imports;
Information campaign - leaflets, posters, adverts on seven million ticket wallets;
Better intelligence gathering and dissemination;
Sniffer dog trial at Heathrow to be expanded;
Introduction of four new mobile anti-smuggling detection teams dedicated to meat and animal products;
Information videos for use on aircraft and as TV fillers (used by broadcasters when they have empty airtime to fill);
The 1kg personal meat concession allowance of meat imports from most third countries has been removed (from 1 Jan 2003).
3.1.3 Beef exports: BSE Surveillance and Eradication
The aim of the BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) surveillance programme is to eradicate BSE in cattle in the UK in order to protect public and animal health. The programme also enables us to identify the true incidence of BSE in the Scottish and UK cattle population. The BSE epidemic is now in decline from a peak of 37,000 clinical cases in the UK (1,850 in Scotland) in 1992, to just 445 clinical cases (16 in Scotland) in 2002.
The continued decline in number of BSE cases annually proves that control measures, first introduced in the 1980s and enhanced during the 1990s, have been successful. The outcome of the surveillance programme should help secure the complete removal of the EU Export ban, introduced in 1996, and so increase the level of beef exports stimulating a competitive beef industry, and reducing the costs to the taxpayer of the BSE control measures. Achieving moderate risk status and removing EU imposed constraints are important pre-cursors to increasing the levels of beef exports. It is hoped that moderate risk status will be achieved by the end of 2004. Scottish stakeholders have been fully involved in determining the Executive policy objectives.
Work is underway to negotiate amendments to the extensive controls on exports of beef from the UK and the ultimate return to a level playing field with other Member States, including moving to full compliance with the requirements of EU controls on applying the surveillance and testing procedures on all bovine animals aged over thirty months destined for the human food chain. Stakeholders' views are regularly sought on the most appropriate and practical ways to implement these measures in Scotland.
Timetable: An opinion from the European Food Safety Authority regarding the UK's moderate risk status is expected in March 2004.
3.2
Maximising the Benefits of Animal Health and Welfare
The Animal Health and Welfare Strategy is all about maximising the benefits of high standards of animal health and welfare. This is partly to do with preventing disease in the first place, and partly a question of ensuring that everyone is aware of the advantages to be gained.
Biosecurity is a key concept in this area. Too many people see biosecurity as being primarily to do with baths of disinfectant, and keeping footwear and vehicles clean. These practical on-farm measures are important for avoiding the spread of any infectious diseases that could pose a risk to livestock. However the meaning of biosecurity is actually much wider than this and has more far reaching implications. To keep disease out of a farm it is equally important to look at where the animals come from in the first place. Buying animals from areas which are clear of certain diseases will reduce the risks. Testing for diseases, especially in new stock, and at the appropriate time, is also essential. All these steps must be taken, and will work together to keep Scotland free of as many diseases as possible, while at the same time we work to eliminate other conditions and continually improve the standards of animal health and welfare across the country.
There are lots of diverse initiatives going on to prevent disease in one way or another, using different approaches to achieve this goal in different contexts. Some of the following projects are carried out at the UK or Scotland level, others are to do with steps taken on individual farms. All of these should work together in partnership to as far as possible prevent disease from negatively impacting animal health and welfare.
3.2.1 Movement regimes
Animal movement controls are necessary to reduce the risk of the spread of exotic and virulent diseases such as FMD. Current rules only allow livestock to move under licence and impose a standstill on animals moved between holdings and from markets. At present this standstill is 13 days for cattle, sheep, goats and deer. Pigs continue to be held for 20 days, as was the situation before FMD. A number of exemptions are permitted to the standstill rules
2. Additionally, animals are also exempt from the standstill where they are held in separation facilities which have been approved by SEERAD. The form and method of this standstill differs significantly north and south of the border. Significant differences are that Scotland has a 13 day standstill compared to 6 days in England and Wales, however, the exceptions and the separation arrangements are not available south of the border.
3.2.2 Animal Health Planning
The benefits to farmers that can be achieved through animal health planning, was a consistent theme throughout the Strategy Consultation. Responses highlighted the contribution health plans can make to farm business profitability. Scotland was highlighted as an example of Best Practice with a number of initiatives already in place e.g. HI Health and the SAC Cattle, Pig, Sheep and Goat Health Schemes. Use of animal health planning is far from standard practice and needs to be promoted.
Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has been working with the Scottish Executive, the industry and the veterinary profession to develop ways of promoting this practice. Following a review by its standard setting body, the Specially Selected Scotch Farm Assured Scheme for Cattle & Sheep now recommends that members complete an annual Biosecurity & Animal Health Plan with their vets. This is already required four times per year in the Specially Selected Scotch Farm Assured Pigs Scheme.
QMS is also working with the Executive to provide a common, practical format for animal health plans in order to address the lack of consistency in what animal health plans mean and to avoid the confusion which currently exists. Training will be provided for veterinary practices in the delivery of effective farm level animal health plans.
Timetable: The health plan software package will be subject to a pilot in the New Year to assess its practicality and deliverability before being rolled out across Scotland.
3.2.3 Biosecurity
The Executive is seeking to maintain the high profile of biosecurity and is working on a number of initiatives with the industry . These initiatives are all designed to reduce the risk of animal disease occurring or spreading on to farms or similar premises:
The
Biosecurity Code was developed in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/agri/crwl-00.asp. It sets out a series of practical steps that can be taken to limit Scotland's vulnerability to any future outbreak of animal disease. Recognising that biosecurity is not only the responsibility of the livestock keeper, the Code also includes guidance to other users of farmland.
The Executive has been working with SAC to develop a
biosecurity training module, to Scottish Qualifications Authority standard, which will be available to higher and further education institutes and other colleges
www.sqa.org.uk/files/hn/DDE2H34.pdf. The focus of the module is to make candidates aware of the importance of biosecurity in reducing the risk of disease occurring or spreading to another animal. The module provides candidates with knowledge of the health implications (animal and human) of livestock diseases and the effect that exotic and endemic diseases can have on business productivity. Once the course has been successfully embedded, the Executive will be reviewing the usefulness of this approach with the Animal Health and Welfare Stakeholder Group with the view to developing a further programme of work.
Timetable: The biosecurity module is on the Scottish Qualifications Authority website, available to education establishments.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/about/ERADRA/LAH/00015721/BIOSECURITY.aspx. This is being reviewed with the objective of increasing the level of information available. The website is considered one of the key methods of maintaining awareness of biosecurity.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/about/ERADRA/LAH/00015721/buyinginanimalsv2.aspx
Timetable: The Market Biosecurity Code is planned to be produced by April 2004.
3.2.4 Veterinary Surveillance
Veterinary surveillance is critical in maintaining disease awareness, detecting emerging disease and identifying changing patterns of endemic disease. It is essential to help the industry to respond to new and emerging threats and in a exotic disease situation to activate the emergency response and minimise the outbreak's impact.
Surveillance for exotic diseases such as FMD is carried out on behalf of the Executive by the SVS, SAC staff and private vets. Local authority inspectors also act as spotters when carrying out market and transport inspections. Other diseases such as bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis, BSE (see 3.1.3) and scrapie are subject to Government funded targeted surveillance. Both tuberculosis and brucellosis have been detected this year in cattle brought into Scotland from other parts of the UK. Non-notifiable disease surveillance in Scotland is currently carried out by SAC under a SEERAD contract worth 2m pa.
To take this forward over the next 10 years, a
UK Veterinary Surveillance Strategy has been published (October 2003)
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/agri/vetsstrat.pdf. Its UK-wide remit reflects the fact that Great Britain is linked to Northern Ireland through extensive trade. The strategy will deliver earlier warning of disease threats, prioritise surveillance activities openly and transparently, and make better use of the data collected.
Key elements of the Strategy will be:
Profiling of diseases and prioritising the risks they pose to animal and human health in the UK;
Making better use (via sharing) of existing surveillance data;
Development of RADAR (Rapid Analysis and Detection of Animal-related Risk), an innovative Information Technology system;
Better dissemination of surveillance data allowing industry to identify risks.
In addition to the UK Surveillance Strategy work, an International Surveillance system has been developed which will allow Government and industry to identify emerging threats and where necessary place themselves on standby to respond.
3.2.5 Animal By-Products
The aim of the by-products legislation is to protect public and animal health by ensuring that animal by-products (animal carcases, parts of animal carcases and products of animal origin which are not intended for human consumption) are safely used or disposed of. The BSE epidemic caused existing EU regulations on the use of animal by-products to be tightened due to the implications for animal and human health. New EU legislation has now been adopted to consolidate and update the previous controls and to provide a secure framework for the disposal and use of animal by-products.
The feeding of waste food that contains infected meat has been implicated in a number of outbreaks of serious animal disease, most recently Classical Swine Fever (2000) and Foot and Mouth Disease (2001). These outbreaks had a damaging impact on the welfare of animals and the livestock industry but the affects were far reaching and other sectors such as tourism were also adversely affected.
Implementation of the new EU legislation in Scotland was effected on 1 October 2003. An extensive and wide ranging consultation exercise was conducted prior to the introduction of these measures in Scotland. The new legislation:
Determines which by-products are classified as specified risk material;
Determines the circumstances under which animal by-products may be recycled for use in animal feed;
Introduces restrictions in the disposal of waste food in order to protect human health, impacting on the food manufacturing and food retail sector;
Imposes stringent controls on the composting of catering waste containing meat to prevent the spread of animal pathogens;
May apply to the disposal of animal carcases or during a disease outbreak.
The animal by-products legislation does not provide environmental controls but there are strong cross linkages to the Scottish Executive's National Waste Plan and the work of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
3.2.6 Fallen Stock
The EU Animal By-Products Regulation also introduced a compete ban on the burial or burning on farm of animal carcases and other animal materials, except in remote areas. The Scottish Executive, in recognition of the increase in the cost of disposal for farmers, has helped to establish a limited company to provide a UK wide collection and disposal service for livestock keepers.
The scheme will be voluntary and financed by subscription with a financial contribution from the Executive and other UK Agriculture Departments for the first 3 years. A board of Directors has been appointed by Ministers to oversee the establishment of the company and run the collection/disposal scheme, including its financial administration. A nominee of NFU Scotland is one of the Directors. The economies of scale of such as scheme mean there should be considerable savings for farmers who would otherwise have to pay more to make their own arrangements for the collection of fallen stock when each animal dies.
Timetable: The Fallen Stock scheme will be operational early in 2004.
3.2.7 Aquaculture Strategy
The Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture was published in March 2003
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/about/ERADRA/FFAME/00015953/page39723696.pdf. Its vision is that "Scotland will have a sustainable, diverse, competitive and economically viable aquaculture industry, of which its people can be justifiably proud. It will deliver high quality, healthy food to consumers at home and abroad, and social and economic benefits to communities, particularly in rural and remote areas. It will operate responsibly, working within the carrying capacity of the environment, both locally and nationally throughout the supply chain."
The Framework contains 33 specific priorities for action that are designed to help the industry's sustainability over the next 10-15 years. Progress on these priorities will be reviewed by the Ministerial Working Group for Aquaculture (MWGA) every 12-18 months and a fundamental review of the Framework will be carried out in around five years' time.
One of the specific priorities for action is the production of a
Welfare Code of Practice for farmed fish. High welfare standards are a contributor to consumer confidence and should be a high priority for the industry. Indeed, the EU has recognised this and the Council of Europe has established a Working Group to look at this issue. In Scotland we took the view that we should not await the outcome of their deliberations before developing our own thinking.
A subgroup of the Aquaculture Health Joint Working Group, comprising industry, animal welfare, veterinary and government interests, was set up in June 2003 to study the implications of fish welfare considerations for current aquaculture practices and report by Summer 2004. The group's report will translate into a series of recommendations to the Scottish aquaculture industry, for incorporation in an industry Code of Practice on other issues such as disease control, health and safety and environmental impact. Recommendations on welfare will be based on best available science and practice and will demonstrate to consumers that fish welfare issues are being positively addressed by industry. It is intended that the Code of Practice will put the industry in a better position to comply, in due course, with the recommendations of the EC Working Group on fish welfare.
3.2.8 Cost sharing
The Outline Strategy committed Government to reviewing the services it provides to livestock keepers, to ensure that an appropriate tax payer / industry balance is in place in terms of who pays for what. In making this commitment Scottish Ministers have made it clear that any changes will need to be justified; before putting any extra costs on them, Government must clearly demonstrate that it is meeting its obligations to the industry. It is also imperative that any additional costs incurred by industry are affordable.
3.3
Endemic diseases
Exotic diseases such as foot and mouth disease are a very visible threat to animal health and welfare in GB, with high public awareness and media attention when there is an outbreak. However there are diseases found in GB which have much lower profiles but nevertheless require our efforts to control or eradicate them.
3.3.1 National Scrapie Plan
The National Scrapie Plan (NSP) has been developed jointly by the GB Agriculture and Rural Affairs Departments, and is an important strand of the Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture. The aim of the NSP is to increase the level of resistance to TSEs (Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy) in the national sheep flock to the extent necessary to eventually eradicate all TSEs. This directly addresses and reduces the risk to human health arising from the theoretical possibility that BSE may have infected sheep. This will also improve animal health and welfare and help to support trade in sheep and sheep products.
The National Scrapie Plan was launched in July 2001 following wide consultation with industry. The NSP comprises of a number of schemes and initiatives which are more fully explained on the NSP website at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/bse/bse-science/scrapie/nsp/PublicatsRpts/publicatRpts.htm
The
Ram Genotyping Scheme was launched in July 2001 and is open to all registered and non-registered pure-bred flocks.
Ewe Testing was conducted in 2002/2003 as a one off scheme. SEERAD continues to push for a permanent ewe-testing scheme.
A
Rare Breed Survey was conducted in 2002 to give us a better indication of the gene frequencies of rare breeds and enable them to breed towards increased resistance.
A
Semen Bank is proposed to be operational by January 2004.
The voluntary
Scrapie Flock Scheme is also due to be launched early in January 2004. This will be open to flocks who have reported Scrapie since June 1998 and the introduction of domestic legislation on EU Scrapie measures.
The EU requires the establishment of a
framework to recognise the TSE resistant status of individual flocks by January 2004. This will particularly benefit farmers who rely on purchasing sheep. All flocks are eligible to join the framework if they posses NSP tested rams.
3.3.2 International Trade and Scrapie monitoring
The movements of breeding sheep between Member states is regulated by EU requirement EC 999/2001. Articles 15,17 and 24 together with Annex VIII provide control requirements designed to reduce the spread of TSEs when importing and exporting ovine and caprine animals as breeding stock in the UK. The primary function of the Scrapie Monitoring Scheme (SMS) is to fulfil this regulation. The essential requirements of the scheme are:
The holding is subject to veterinary checks;
No case of Scrapie has been confirmed on the holding for 3 years;
Checks are made on brain samples has taken on a proportion of cull ewes;
Females are only introduced from a holding with the same status.
Annex VIII was amended by Commission Regulation 260/2003 on the 1 October 2003 to allow the movement of breeding sheep between Member States if they are of the ARR/ARR genotype. Any farmer can join the SMS subject to compliance with the rules. The SMS scheme is administered by Defra and the SVS and is presently under review.
3.3.3 Bovine Tuberculosis
The decision to make Bovine TB a notifiable disease stemmed largely from the need to protect public health, particularly from risks associated with milk. Pasteurisation of milk and meat inspection in slaughterhouses has greatly reduced this risk but bovine TB it is still a serious concern to the cattle sector and remains notifiable because of its impact on animal health and welfare. Whilst Scotland has a low incidence of this animal disease, we must not become complacent, and the industry needs to take responsibility for keeping out disease, particularly when sourcing stock from high-risk areas.
Reflecting the impact that TB can have on a herd and its neighbours, it is important that the introduction of disease is prevented. For its part Government undertakes a rigorous surveillance programme with every cattle herd in low incidence areas such as Scotland, being tested for TB every 4 years. (This is more frequent in areas with high incidence of TB.) The current framework for TB testing is set out in EU legislation. However, as the incidence of TB is increasing it is now appropriate to review our current TB policy with the aim of developing a TB strategy which will ensure a sustainable future for animal disease prevention and control. The formation of a new TB strategy will involve a full and detailed consultation exercise with stakeholders and will examine both short and long term policy options.
To help the industry the Executive has been working with the veterinary profession to provide farmers with guidance to their clients on steps that can be taken to minimise the risk of buying infected stock. This is available on the Executive's Biosecurity website:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/about/ERADRA/LAH/00015721/BIOSECURITY.aspx
Timetable: The Strategy is planned to be put to consultation in February 2004.
3.3.4 Sheep Scab Initiative
The incidence of sheep scab has increased following an end to compulsory dipping in July 1992. In response to its members concern, NFU Scotland brought together an all-industry group of stakeholders in Scotland (including NSA Scotland representatives, organic certification bodies, SAC and many others) to develop the Scottish Sheep Scab Initiative.
The Initiative called for sheep farmers to co-ordinate their action through treatment of their 'at risk' flocks in September and October this year. Its aim is to reduce the incidence of sheep scab in Scotland through:
Promoting and supporting best practice (flock biosecurity);
Minimising the impact of outbreaks (effective and co-ordinated treatment);
Maximising the effects of preventative action (targeting risk and co-ordinating treatment).
In addition to general awareness raising, a powerpoint presentation is available for veterinary practices trying to deal with an outbreak situation in their area. By calling the 'Scab Information Line'(0131 472 4031) sheep farmers can receive a free information pack which contains vital information on how to prevent or identify and treat the disease, as well as being able to anonymously report an outbreak. In the case of an outbreak report, details will be handed onto SAC to co-ordinate a response with 'spotter' veterinary practices, who will alert clients, and provide coordination and technical support to control any outbreak. The aim is to develop this network of 'spotter' practices in order to monitor the infection level; practices are presently coming forward to volunteer their services.
An action period has been agreed in which all 'at risk' flocks could be treated. Thus, during September and October 2003, all sheep farmers in Scotland were asked to assess flock health, risk status (including local risk factors and local prevention strategy) and treat accordingly.
3.4
Welfare
Animal welfare is of concern not only to animal keepers and Government but also to the wider public. Some of the problems result from animal health conditions, but in some cases they are the result of inappropriate - and unacceptable - husbandry. In addition to the responsibility for enforcing statutory standards, much of which is undertaken by the SVS and local authorities with support from the SSPCA, an important role of Government is in helping to promote best practice through the publication and distribution of Animal Welfare Codes. These Codes are also often used to implement recommendations of the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC). FAWC is an independent advisory body which reports to UK Agricultural Ministers on the welfare of farm animals on agricultural land, at market, in transit and at the place of slaughter.
3.4.1 CAP cross compliance
The CAP Reform agreed in June 2003 will lead to new arrangements being introduced for Cross Compliance. A farmer receiving direct payments will have to comply with 18 Statutory Requirements which include animal health and welfare standards. These Statutory requirements will be phased in between 1 January 2005 and 2007. Farmers will also have to maintain their land in good agricultural and environmental condition from 2005.
A Technical Stakeholder Group, including representatives from the NFU Scotland, Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, SAC, Scottish Landowners Federation, Environment LINK, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Forestry Commission and Historic Scotland, has been established by the Executive to advise on the different aspects of Cross Compliance provisions.
Timetable: This group meets on a regular basis and the intention is to issue a formal consultation document early in 2005 with a view to finalising the requirements in late spring/early summer that year.
3.4.2 Welfare codes of practice
The Executive regularly works with the SVS, the industry, and other stakeholders to produce best practice guidance on welfare. These Codes each deal with a different species (e.g. laying hens, meat chickens, pigs, cattle and sheep), and offer advice and guidance to livestock keepers on best animal welfare practice. They supplement welfare legislation, expand on the legal requirements, and aim to encourage all who care for farm animals to adopt the highest standard of husbandry. No matter how good a system may be in principle, it is good stockmanship that is really central to promoting animal health and welfare, and following the Codes helps stock keepers to meet the necessary welfare standards.
The codes have recently been revised and are available on the Scottish Executive website
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/agri/Sheep_Master_AW.pdf.
3.4.3 SSPCA / Crimestoppers initiative
The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) launched a joint initiative with Crimestoppers in October 2003, to try to prevent crimes concerning extreme animal cruelty. A secure phoneline has been set up which allows members of the public to anonymously report crimes such as dog fighting, badger baiting, and cockfighting. Those involved in these types of activity can be dangerous people, meaning that potential callers may be fearful about passing on any information about these crimes. The new phoneline will protect the identity of the caller and should lead to SSPCA inspectors having the right information to more effectively tackle these welfare crimes, in partnership with local police forces. This initiative should help eliminate some of the worst animal welfare abuses across Scotland.
The phoneline number is 0800 555 111. Calls are free, and the number will not appear on phone bills. It should be noted that this number is for use only in cases of extreme welfare abuses. Any other types of call should be made to the SSPCA on 0131 339 0111.
3.4.4 Introduction to Best Practice Guidance, Deer Commission Scotland
Wild (or part-wild) deer in Scotland fall into a category not properly recognised in the Outline Animal Health and Welfare Strategy, which could be termed managed animals. This sector would also include other species of mammals, birds and fish which are managed for sport and/or consumption, and even some wild birds. This sector will be more fully addressed in the final Strategy, particularly to highlight the work which is already going on to promote welfare. One example is the Deer Commission for Scotland's (DCS) Best Practice Guidance.
The Best Practice series provides a concise description of the procedures considered Best Practice, to which all involved in deer management should adhere. The seven organisations forming the BP steering group
3 are committed to 'defining and promoting Best Practice for the management of wild deer, with safety and welfare as key concerns'.
The guides are designed to be used as a reference source and management tool and to provide a benchmark against which activities can be measured. They will also be used to assist DCS in assessing 'fit and competent', a prerequisite to obtaining an authorisation under the Deer (Scotland) Act, 1996. They will be updated as required to reflect current information on Best Practice and to fast track the dissemination of developments in policy and research.
There will be approximately 80 guides in the series which is divided into two sections: the guides themselves, outlining the procedures considered Best Practice; and Associated Information, which includes recent research and policy developments, and useful contacts,
Timetable: Currently 23 guides have been published, 20 are due in April 2004 and the series will be completed by January 2005. (
www.dcs.gov.uk )
3.5 Emergency preparedness
Scotland has a strong tradition of contingency planning for animal disease, but the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak of 2001 highlighted certain areas where more work was needed, in order for the country to be better prepared should such a widespread outbreak occur again. This is not just an animal health response and much of the work links into an increased level of Preparedness across the Scottish Executive. An
Exotics Disease Control System (exDCS) is currently being developed to provide data management for any outbreak of exotic disease. This is being developed on a modular basis. The first module will be available for user trial in Spring 2004.
3.5.1 Livestock ID
Effective animal identification and traceability systems are key to ensuring that any animals involved in a disease outbreak can be traced quickly, limiting the spread of disease. Therefore it is important that keepers of livestock understand and comply with the requirements for the identification and movement of their animals. In addition to its main role in protecting animal and public health, compliance with ID and traceability requirements is also needed for payment of cattle subsidies. Statistical information gleaned from the traceability databases also helps with policy development and can provide data to help industry improve marketing and management strategies.
SEERAD has been working closely with industry representatives since 2000 to streamline traceability procedures, to reduce the opportunity for error and in particular to introduce new electronic technology where appropriate. The Industry/SEERAD Advisory Group which oversees this work played a key role introducing CTS Online in early 2001. This allows cattle keepers with access to the internet to submit their information electronically through a validated route that reports back on potential errors. This also gives keepers easy access to the information held about their cattle so they can check its accuracy and make any amendments at a time that suits them.
SEERAD has been pressing the British Cattle Movement Service to improve the quality of data held on the Cattle Tracing System by promoting the electronic reporting of data and the introduction of electronic feedback to cattle keepers. Improved electronic statements should be available in 2004, as part of a larger BCMS exercise to improve the quality of data. These improvements will be accessible to farmers who do not have computers through a new joint initiative, involving the 16 main marts in Scotland and SAC.
The Industry/SEERAD Advisory Group has also been actively involved in assessing Electronic Identification (EID) systems for potential use in livestock traceability. Results of trials already undertaken and planned will help inform future discussions with the EU on proposals to introduce EID.
The Sheep traceability system introduced in February 2002 was developed using the experience gained from the cattle system. Key industry stakeholders were involved from the outset and the final outcome includes electronically based movement reporting. The database also records goat and pig movements. Around 80% of sheep and goat movements are reported electronically to the database, mainly by Marts and Abattoirs. Work is underway to facilitate an electronic route for reporting pig movements.
Timetable: From November 2003 CTS Online, will be available at 16 Marts and many SAC offices to enable farmers who do not have a computer to maintain their CTS records efficiently.
3.5.2 FMD Contingency Plan
The Scottish Executive produced a Scottish Contingency Plan for FMD in 2002. This was developed in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, and the final Plan was published in February 2003 (
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/agri/documents/CP26Feb.pdf). The Contingency Plan sets out the policy principles that would guide the response to a FMD outbreak in Scotland. It also outlines the management structures that would be put in place if FMD were confirmed; this clear chain of command would be essential in ensuring a quick and effective response to any outbreak.
The Plan includes:
It also links into local contingency plans which are being developed across Scotland, to set out in more detail the roles of people and agencies at the local level. These plans are subject to annual review with stakeholders.
The post-FMD Inquiry reports were generally positive about the way in which the outbreak was handled in Scotland. However there were some areas where it was felt that more could be done to improve preparedness, and one of these was communications. A
Communications Strategy is therefore being developed to be used alongside the Contingency Plan. Independent consultants have been involved in producing this, and the Scottish Executive is currently working to take forward their recommendations, in consultation with key partners and other stakeholders.
The Contingency Plan was tested in a Scottish rehearsal in September 2003. Although the local contingency plans in Scotland have been regularly rehearsed, this was the first time the national and local procedures had been tested at the same time, and the interface between the 2 levels formed an important element of the exercise. The rehearsal was very successful, with most parts of the response going smoothly as planned, but there are certain areas where lessons have been learned and there is scope to improve. The report of the exercise will be published shortly. The first GB-wide contingency plan rehearsal, involving all the GB Agricultural Departments, will take place in 2004. This will provide a valuable opportunity to test the co-ordination between Departments.
Timetable: The Contingency Plan is currently being reviewed in the light of the rehearsal, and the next version will be published in Spring 2004. The Communications Strategy will be published for consultation in December 2003.
3.5.3 BSE in Sheep Contingency Plan
The FMD plan is broadly applicable to other contagious animal diseases. A separate but related plan has been developed for use in the eventuality that BSE is found to naturally exist in sheep. The development of the plan is in line with the principles of Preparedness highlighted by the Phillips Inquiry into BSE. It will outline the way in which Government, other agencies and the industry and other stakeholders will respond to protect public health and the sector's ongoing viability. It will shortly be taken to stakeholder consultation.
Timetable: The draft Plan will be put to consultation in 2004.
3.6
Public health
Scottish produce enjoys an outstanding reputation both domestically and internationally. We recognise too the growing demand from consumers that produce should reflect the highest standards of animal husbandry and environmental stewardship. This demand is grounded in practical and ethical concerns that food should be safe and wholesome and that livestock is reared humanely.
The protection of public health is a priority for the Scottish Executive and a major driver in our ambition to raise animal health and welfare standards. High profile public health scares have undermined consumer confidence in the industry, and more widely Britain's international reputation. Central to our Vision for the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy is restoring that confidence in food and food production in Scotland. The following are some of the steps taken to guard against public health dangers arising from animal disease, and ensure that consumers can be justifiably confident in food produced here.
3.6.1 Zoonoses
Zoonotic diseases are those which are transmissible from animals to humans, including salmonella, rabies and E coli. Government intervenes to control these diseases in order to protect public health. There are various ways to guard against zoonoses, and some may not be primarily to do with the health or welfare of the animal itself. Certain zoonoses, including some salmonella and E coli infections, may not harm or show symptoms in an animal, but are nevertheless harmful to people. However there are ways to minimise the danger to humans from these conditions. The incidence of salmonella in chickens in GB has decreased dramatically in recent years. This has been a result of better biosecurity and improved management throughout the production cycle, following the scare about salmonella in the late 1980s.
The UK Zoonoses Group provides overall co-ordination of public health action at the UK, national and local levels, with regard to zoonotic infections and antimicrobial resistance to those infections. At local level, meetings are held regularly between human and animal health professionals to discuss zoonotic disease issues. The Group also includes senior personnel from a number of interested Government departments, and advises Ministers on important events in the field of Zoonoses.
3.6.2 Pet Travel Scheme
The British Isles are free of rabies and there are a number of measures in place to ensure that the possibility of rabies entering the UK is kept to a minimum. We have strict quarantine controls on cats, dogs and other mammals at risk of carrying rabies which normally require an imported animal to spend 6 months in an approved kennel or other isolation facility. However, the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) allows people in the UK to take their pets to certain countries
4, and bring them back without the need for quarantine.
The Scheme is limited to:
Pet cats and dogs (including guide dogs and other assistance dogs);
Pets coming into the UK from certain countries and territories;
Certain sea, air and rail routes.
At present there are no approved routes directly into Scotland. Animals from non-qualifying countries must spend 6 months in quarantine.
3.6.3 Horse Passports
Although the horse is not generally considered a food producing animal in Britain, it is important to protect the health of those in continental Europe who eat horse meat. New European legislation aims to do this by requiring all horses (and ponies and other equidae) to have a passport. Passports must record information about all veterinary medicines administered, in order to ensure that horses which have received medicines not intended for use on food producing animals, do not end up in the human food chain. Failure to ensure this could result in the European Commission removing its approval of these medicines. Since the drugs in question are commonly available and in widespread use, this could have negative welfare implications across the equine industry. Horse passports will be issued by one of the organisations that have been authorised by the Scottish Executive or one of the other UK agriculture departments.
Timetable: This legislation will be implemented on 30 June 2004.
3.6.4 EU Food Hygiene regulations
The Food Standards Agency's "Farm to Fork" approach to food production will form the basis of new EU food hygiene legislation. This will require livestock producers to register as food producers, which means they must: control hazards that can enter the food chain on the farm; operate hygienically; and keep records relevant to food safety. Slaughterhouse animals must be traceable back to their farm of origin and must be accompanied by information from producers' records.
Government will establish a cross industry working group to prepare the industry to adapt to the forthcoming food hygiene regulations.
Timetable: The regulations are likely to be published in spring 2004, and will enter into force on 1 January 2006. The new working group will meet for the first time early in 2004, in order to give the industry a reasonable time period to adapt.
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