Supplementary memorandum submitted by
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Letter to the Second Clerk of the Committee
from the Parliamentary Clerk, Department for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs, 2 December 2005
When Ben Bradshaw gave oral evidence to your Committee
on 15 November on Avian Influenza he undertook to provide some
follow up information on three issues. This information is set
out below. I hope the Committee finds it helpful. Please contact
me if you need anything further.
AI DIRECTIVE
The proposed new Directive on AI does not alter the
fundamental principles of control contained in the current Directive.
These controls include the requirement to report suspicion of
disease, slaughter of infected flocks and movement restrictions
around suspect and infected holdings. However these measures have
been expanded and updated to take account of the lessons learned
in recent outbreaks and the latest scientific knowledge.
The proposal introduces a number of new measures
for the control of the disease. Most importantly, it includes
surveillance for low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) and
controls following outbreaks of LPAI on holdings. Some subtypes
of the virus can mutate into the highly pathogenic form of the
disease so these measures will help to reduce the risk of an outbreak
of high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which would have far
more serious consequences and costs for farmers, Government and
the economy. The UK has been taking part in the EC's pilot surveillance
programme since 2003. The Directive introduces Community controls
where an outbreak is in captive birds other than poultry.
In addition, competent authorities can derogate from
certain control measures as long as disease control is not jeopardized.
This flexibility will reduce the impact of an outbreak on the
industry while maintaining essential disease control. We will
also have scope to limit the movement restrictions where disease
is found in premises other than commercial poultry farms where
the risk of disease spread is assessed to be minimal. The proposal
introduces the ability for keepers of rare breeds of poultry and
birds to register with the competent authority to take advantage
of derogations within the proposal.
There are also new measures to help control an outbreak
and reduce the risk of spread of disease. The proposal introduces
an option to impose temporary movement restrictions on suspicion
of disease on a holding and a national or regional movement restriction
on confirmation of disease. A requirement for a database of commercial
poultry holdings also brings control measures in line with other
exotic disease control measures.
FOOT AND
MOUTH DISEASE
IN BRAZIL
The European Commission's Food and Veterinary Office
(FVO) carried out an inspection visit to Brazil earlier this year
between 30 August and 15 September. The Commission is sending
the draft report to the Brazilian authorities and in the meanwhile
is unwilling to discuss the detail.
On 11 November the Commission told Member States
that it had some concerns about the situation in Brazil. Nevertheless,
the Commission has assured us that they would have taken immediate
action to protect animal and public health if they had thought
this was necessary.
The Brazilian authorities have confirmed to the Commission
that they have imposed additional internal controls in the affected
areas including restrictions on holdings, biosecurity measures
with entry restrictions and clinical examination of all animals
on holdings. The Commission has confirmed that it is monitoring
the situation closely and that it would review the position in
December.
Defra has banned imports of meat from the affected
areas in Brazil in line with Community law. Inspection staff at
Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) have been made aware of the situation
in Brazil. All meat imported into the EU from third countries
must enter at designated BIPs where it is subject to veterinary
inspections. All consignments are subject to documentary and identity
checks and at least 20% of consignments undergo physical checks.
These ensure import conditions are met and that the products remain
in a satisfactory condition during transport.
Defra has carried out a risk assessment which was
published on the website on 11 October:
http://defraweb/animalh/diseases/monitoring/pdf/fmd-brazil.pdf
QUARANTINE LICENSES
There have been three refusals of a licence for an
avian quarantine premises in the last three years in Great Britain.
Two were refused because they did not meet welfare or structural
requirements, whilst the third was refused because it was to be
adjacent to a pet shop. There are currently 52 premises licensed.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
December 2005
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