National Recovery Guidance - Environmental Issues - Animal health and welfare
Background and Context
Animal health and welfare issues have been identified as a result of a variety of exotic animal diseases including Foot and Mouth Disease, various flooding incidents, issues arising from emergencies outside the UK such as Hurricane Katrina, as well as questions raised with Animal Health by local authorities and by Government Offices.
Exotic animal disease outbreaks (eg. Foot and Mouth Disease, Avian Influenza) are unique in that, for an outbreak in GB, both national and local responses are led by the lead Government Department (Defra, Welsh Assembly and Scottish Governments and their Animal Health agency) in close liaison with local responders such as local authorities, police forces and agencies such as the Health Protection and Environment Agencies. Details of the response are covered in the appropriate Exotic Animal Diseases contingency plans (see policy and guidance below).
In Northern Ireland, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) is the lead Department, with the functions of the HPA and EA being carried out largely by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) and the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) respectively.
Policy and Guidance
England
Defra's revised Contingency Plan for Exotic Diseases of Animals [external website] was laid before Parliament on 15th December 2009. The plan covers arrangements for dealing with outbreaks and incidents of exotic disease of Animals, including Foot and Mouth Disease, Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease.
The Contingency Plan is comprised of two parts:
- An Overview of Emergency Preparedness [1.5 MB] providing details of how we prepare for an operational response; and
- The Framework Response Plan [PDF 1.3 MB] outlining systems, structures, roles and responsibilities implemented during an outbreak.
This is complemented by those plans produced by devolved administrations.
For information on disease surveillance and control [external website] (including detailed information on different disease such as Food and Mouth, Avian Influenza and Rabies).
Defra policy on restrictions on public rights of way and access to open country [external website] is based on a clear principle that that there should be a presumption in favour of maintaining public access during an animal disease outbreak.
For information about the Rural Stress Action Plan, see the Needs of people – Health topic sheet.
For disposal of carcase issues, see the Dealing with waste topic sheet. In the event of an animal disease outbreak, there is a derogation to facilitate carcase disposal. The hierarchy is incineration, rendering and land-fill.
Guidance on Animal Welfare legislation [external website] and the responsibilities of animal owners and keepers.
Generic Animal Health & Welfare Pages [external website] also includes information on bringing pets to the UK, information on animal by-products and transport regulations.
Devolved Administrations
Animal Health and Welfare is a devolved responsibility in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Great Britain is considered to be a single epidemiological unit from Ireland. Wales and Scotland have their own published contingency plans for exotic diseases, which complement that published by Defra. Animal health and welfare, disease control policy and strategy is developed and determined collectively by the UK administrations.
Wales
In Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government seeks to secure lasting improvements in the agriculture sector by protecting and improving the quality of Welsh stock and controlling and eradicating diseases. The Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer works closely with Animal Health and DEFRA on animal health and welfare.
The Welsh Exotic Animal Disease Contingency Plan [external website] provides the framework for the management and administrative structures that would be put into place in Wales in the event of a major outbreak of an infectious animal health disease. The Plan contains the generic structures, systems, lines of communication and decision making processes, which are common to the control of the exotic diseases.
Scotland
Animal health and welfare policy is fully devolved to the Scottish Parliament, and Scottish Ministers will be responsible for determining the policy response to any animal disease emergency situation.
Given that disease knows no boundaries and that Great Britain is a single epidemiological unit, a co-ordinated disease control approach will be taken across Great Britain. The lead role in any disease outbreak in Scotland will be taken by SEERAD working in close partnership with stakeholders and operational partners.
Animal disease control and welfare is subject to a range of legislation [external website]. The Scottish Government takes a strategic approach to encouraging health and welfare and ensuring appropriate contingency planning is in place to cope with potential disease outbreaks.
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, epizootic disease response arrangements are detailed in the NI Generic Plan and National Health and Welfare Strategy. [external website]
This strategy document covers the period 2006-2011 and considers the health and welfare of both farm and domestic animals, including the all-island context of animal health and welfare as the island of Ireland is considered to be a single epidemiological unit.
Defra policy on restrictions on public rights of way and access to open country is based on a clear principle that that there should be a presumption in favour of maintaining public access during an animal disease outbreak. Northern Ireland (DARD) would also adopt this line where possible.
In Northern Ireland, DARD has a Memorandum of Understanding with a registered charity called Rural Support, which provides advice and a counselling service to farmers and other members of the rural community suffering stress associated with farming and/or the aftermath of an outbreak of epizootic disease – information about this organisation. [external website]
Roles and Responsibilities
Details of the duties of people responsible for animal welfare are covered in the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The act and explanatory notes are available on the UK Legislation website. [external PDF]
Local and Regional
For the roles and responsibilities of those involved in exotic animal disease outbreaks, see the Defra Exotic Animal Diseases Contingency Plan. [external website]
In England, for issues relating to animals that occur as a result of other emergencies (ie. flooding, CBRN etc), contact should be made with the local Animal Health office (details below). They will advise or escalate within Animal Health/Defra for advice as appropriate. For carcase disposal, see the Dealing with waste topic sheet.
Local Authorities have a statutory duty (under the Animal Health Act [external website]) to enforce movement restrictions in the event of an exotic animal disease outbreak. In NI, this role falls to DARD, assisted by the Police Service of NI (PSNI).
Lead Government Department
Defra is the lead Government Department for exotic animal diseases. The appropriate lead Government Department will lead for other emergencies.
Other Government Involvement
For exotic animal diseases, other government involvement is outlined in the Defra Exotic Animal Diseases contingency plan. [external website]
Funding
Defra would fund disposal of animal carcasses culled by Animal Health as part of an exotic disease control operation.
Links to Other Topic Sheets
- Recovery structures and processes
- Economic and business recovery
- Dealing with waste
- Non-resident UK nationals returning from overseas emergencies (advice on bring pets into the UK)
- Access to and security of sites
Case Studies (Incidents and Exercises)
Other Documents
- Evacuation and Sheltering guidance includes advice for animal owners and keepers.
List of Contacts
Defra
Defra helpline: 08459 335577
Email:helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Defra Duty Room: 0207 270 8960
Animal Health District Offices
Contacts in local Animal Health offices in Great Britain can be found on Defra website.
Scotland
For useful contacts, see Scottish Government website.
Animal Health and Welfare,Scottish Government Rural Directorate
Tel: 0131 244 6015
Fax: 0131 244 6616
Website:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Home
Email:Animal.health@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Northern Ireland
Divisional Veterinary Offices can be contacted through the following link which gives both office and out of hours tel numbers.
