EFRACom questions AHVLA cuts
The House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRACom) has warned the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) that plans to close AHVLA laboratory services at sites across the UK may risk a reduction in the Agency’s ability to identify and tackle animal disease outbreaks. In a letter to the Agriculture Minister, Jim Paice MP (pictured), the Committee set out a number of concerns raised by farmers, vets and AHVLA staff about the rationalisation programme.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) and British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA) have welcomed this statement from the EFRA Committee on the AHVLA plans to rationalise veterinary laboratory services. Commenting, Carl Padgett, BVA President, said "We are grateful to the EFRA Committee for recognising the vital importance of the UK's veterinary surveillance network. We agree wholeheartedly that there is a real need for transparency and full consultation and the BVA is pleased to have had input into the surveillance review group. We look forward to the group’s findings and recommendations which we will consider when the report is published.”
Concurring with Mr Padgett, President of the BCVA Andrew Praill added "The emergence of Schmallenberg virus is a reminder of the need for a robust surveillance system. EFRACom has identified a number of serious concerns with the current approach and we hope ministers and AHVLA listen to them.”
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
