Owen Paterson comments on AHVLA project

Defra secretary of state Owen Paterson discussed the role vets may play under new disease surveillance measures during his address at the BVA Members' Day, which took place in Cardiff on September 26.

Delivering the keynote speech, Mr Paterson touched on a range of key issues including antimicrobial resistance, biosecurity and bovine tuberculosis (bTB).

Addressing members on the topic of surveillance, he spoke of the importance of "preparedness" when it comes to new and emerging diseases and other "animal-related threats".

He referred to an ongoing project by the AHVLA into new approaches to veterinary scanning and surveillance across England and Wales.

Having launched a consultation in December last year, the AHVLA said its aim was to carry out veterinary surveillance more effectively, at a cost affordable to the taxpayer.

A summary of the 370 responses to the consultation was published by the agency earlier this year, suggesting ways to reduce the number of AHVLA surveillance sites and increase the number of cases each site handles.

Giving private veterinary surgeons greater involvement in scanning surveillance processes received general support from respondents, although some were concerned that regionalising the services could be damaging through a reduction in the number of cases submitted and subsequent surveillance output.

Respondents suggested costs could be lowered through a reduction in the agency's overheads, including IT provision, reduction in spending on bTB surveillance and using food industry funding.

Concerns were raised by participants over the further reduction in service that could result, as well as the impact on public health, food security and the detection of new and emerging diseases.

Commenting on the proposed changes, which are likely to be implemented in 2014, Mr Paterson said: "[Vets] will be a key component in creating a more effective surveillance partnership.

"A comprehensive intelligence network will enable a more complete disease threat picture to be drawn. It will improve the way data is shared and interpreted from a wider variety of sources."

Using the information gathered from the consultation, the AHVLA is making recommendations to Defra and Welsh government ministers on the development of future scanning surveillance. Physical changes are expected to be put in place in 2014.