Organisation | Role |
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) | Overall coordination of the UK response, convening and managing the BSE in sheep/goats Programme Board |
Food Standards Agency (FSA) | Advice and recommendations to Ministers on public health measures |
Devolved Administrations · Scottish Government · Welsh Assembly Government · Department of Agriculture and Rural Development | Ministerial decisions and coordination of the response in those administrations. |
Animal Health | Disease investigation and surveillance |
Rural Payments Agency (RPA) | Delivery of services at a local level, including contacts with farmers, sample collection for surveillance and financial aspects |
Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) | BSE testing, Community Reference Laboratory and coordination of the Strain Typing Expert Group (STEG) |
Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) | Independent scientific advice on TSEs and assessment of TSE risks |
UK Health Departments | Ministerial decisions on SEAC/FSA advice |
Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) | Enforcement of regulations in slaughterhouses and cutting plants |
Veterinary Medicines Agency | Recall of veterinary products, if necessary |
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency | Recall of medicinal products, if necessary |
Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform | Recall of consumer products, if necessary |
Health and Safety Executive | Occupational health issues |
Local Authorities | Removal of food products from sale as directed by the FSA and other enforcements responsibilities |
UKREP (United Kingdom Permanent Representation to the European Union) | Liaison with the European Union |
Cabinet Office Civil Contingencies Secretariat | Overseeing cross governmental response to an outbreak of BSE in sheep or goats |