Stakeholder Meetings
Poultry Industry Stakeholders Meeting - 10 April 2006 at 2 pm
Present
David Middleton (Chair) SEERAD
Charles Milne (CVO) SEERAD
Ian Anderson SEERAD
Neil Ritchie SEERAD
Charles Russell SEERAD
Sheila Voas SEERAD
Aileen Bearhop SEERAD
Moira Henderson SEPRA
Karen Campbell Glenrath Farms
Peter Loggie NFUS
Mike Flynn SSPCA
George Hogarth Aviagen
Bill Stanley Aviagen
Michael Darrah Deans Foods
Dan Pearson GCF
Jim Johnston GCF
Fiona Moriarty Scottish Rtl. Consortium
Anne Smith HPS
Charles McManus PD Hook
Tom Young COSLA
Steve Mitchell (by phone) Mitchells Chickens
Mark Williams (by phone) BEIC
Peter Bradnock (by phone) BPC
1. Update
Charles Milne (CM) confirmed there had been no further positive laboratory results and no outstanding reports of disease. Calls to the Wild Bird Surveillance helpline were falling with Scotland experiencing less calls than some other parts of GB. All premises within the PZ and SZ have been visited by veterinary officers. Extra resources have been put into surveillance and collections of dead birds are up to date. It is unlikely we will get conclusive proof of the origin of the swan however the virus it was carrying is very similar to that found in wild birds on the island of Ruegen. We are working on licenses and hope to have them ready soon however we are not expecting any applications for movement in the next two weeks. We are turning down media requests at present as we do not want to encourage the story to run. Consideration has been given to the media handling of possible future scenarios.
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2. Industry Perspective
Fiona Moriarty (FM) re-iterated the Scottish Retail Consortium's commitment to shoring up consumer confidence and encouraged industry to liaise with her over media issues to ensure a consistent message. Fiona confirmed no Scottish poultry products had been removed from supermarket shelves.
Mike Flynn highlighted a case of illegally dumped poultry.
Action point: SEERAD agreed to highlight the responsibilities poultry keepers have in future correspondence.
Ian Anderson confirmed that the key means of communication are through stakeholder groups and relying on high level contacts to disseminate information to members. The website is quickly updated and a Q & A made available. The local disease control centre is set up in a matter of hours and this immediately makes contact with local producers, police and whoever else has a role in preventing the spread of disease.
Action point: Neil Ritchie (NR) will circulate the key documents relevant to industry that were issued over the weekend.
From the Local Authority perspective, Tom Young reported that Fife Council was doing the co-ordinating role for the Wild Bird Risk Area and all was going well.
The floor queried where we are with movement licences and issuing guidance on this. It was confirmed that this was ongoing work and had been ongoing prior to the Fife incident. A draft movements paper was circulated to the group at the Stakeholders meeting of 27 February and shortly after we went to public consultation on the Avian Influenza Order and Regulations 2006. We need the industry perspective to get this right and the offer to set up bilaterals was reiterated.
Action point: NR to issue paper to the group explaining movement restrictions.
It was confirmed that the issue of flu vaccine for poultry workers was discussed along with industry and Health Department representatives on Friday 7 April. Health Boards are writing out to individuals and mechanisms are in place.
Action point: It was agreed that SEERAD would circulate Dan Pearson's employee briefing to the group.
It was agreed the group would next meet on Tuesday 18 April at 2 pm at the same venue where we would have a further discussion on licensing.
David Middleton thanked the group for their input and feedback.
Summary of action points
Action point 1: SEERAD agreed to highlight the responsibilities poultry keepers have in future correspondence.
Action point 2: Neil Ritchie (NR) will circulate the key documents relevant to industry that were issued over the weekend.
Action point 3: It was agreed that SEERAD would circulate Dan Pearson's employee briefing to the group.
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