7 Conclusion
140. By introducing a new unified regulatory
framework in the wake of the Pirbright outbreak, the Government's
policy on biosecurity is moving in the right direction. It is
now imperative that the resources to implement the new framework
are put in place. The lack of co-ordination in the provision of
high containment laboratories means that facilities may not be
being provided in the most efficient way at present. To set up
an inter-agency body to oversee the provision of high containment
laboratories, as we have recommended in this Report, is the appropriate
way forward. This will provide a forum in which to develop strategic
oversight in the area of high containment research and to address
issues such as funding for long-term maintenance and redevelopment
projects on a cross-government and co-operative basis. The outbreak
of FMDV at Pirbright highlights that in the long run, proper regulation,
running and maintenance of high containment facilities is considerably
cheaper than remedying a breach of biocontainment.
|
