MPs criticise agencies’ ‘lack of preparedness’ for bluetongue
Alistair Carmichael MP described a 'summer of heartbreak and anxiety'.
A committee of MPs has called for an explanation from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) on the UK’s bluetongue preparedness.
In a letter to the government agencies, sent on 8 September, the EFRA committee asked questions of the groups’ response to the ongoing bluetongue outbreak.
Signed by committee chair Alistair Carmichael MP, the letter references a 2025 report from the National Audit Office which declared the bodies ‘insufficiently prepared’ for a major animal disease outbreak. It suggested that they would ‘struggle’ to respond effectively in such a case.
Mr Carmichael writes that the current bluetongue outbreak, which he describes as ‘one of the first significant animal health challenges since the publication of the report’, raises important questions about the agencies’ work.
The MP reported concerns from veterinary professionals and farmers about the communication of disease risk, vaccine availability and laboratory delays. He suggested that communications ‘could have been stronger’ before the outbreak escalated.
The letter, addressed to the VMD’s Abigail Seager and APHA’s Richard Lewis, calls on the chief executives to answer questions on their communications strategies, as well as their testing capacity and turnaround times.
It references reports from stakeholders that they faced delays ‘of up to three weeks’ in receiving bluetongue test results. As well as causing uncertainty for farmers, the committee suggested this may complicate the diagnosis of other diseases where cases are assumed to be bluetongue.
The MP asks that the two government agencies share the lessons they have learned from their current response to BTV-3. He also invites comment on the actions they will be taking to ensure that similar ‘challenges’ are not repeated in future years.
Mr Carmichael said: “This has been a summer of heartbreak and anxiety for farmers and livestock keepers who fear for the wellbeing of their animals as much as the viability of their businesses.
“These sectors were already feeling immense pressure from droughts, heatwaves and wildfires as this disease began to spread. There is widespread sentiment that our state agencies have been asleep at the wheel, and that more could and should have been done before and during this outbreak.”
The Committee reports that, as of 7 September, there have been cases of bluetongue recorded on 942 premises in England, Scotland and Wales. The potentially fatal disease can spread to animals including sheep, cattle, goats, deer, llamas and alpacas.
The VMD and APHA have been approached for comment.
Image © John H UK/Shutterstock.com
Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.
