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31 March 2003
DEFRA Revises Foot and Mouth Disease
Contingency Plan (Version 3.0)
On 28 March 2003 DEFRA published a revised version
of the Foot and Mouth Disease Contingency Plan (version 3.0). The
Revised plan can be downloaded by selecting the following link:
www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/contingency/contplan.pdf
(340KB PDF)
Publication of the plan was announced in the following
news release from DEFRA.
The previous version (2.5) of the plan was published
in November 2002 and can be downloaded from Land-Care by clicking
here.
For comments on version 2.5 please see the recommended
further reading at the end of this page.
In many ways the revised plan (3.0) is disappointing
and will be discussed in a future article in Land-Care.
Comments can be sent direct to DEFRA at: contingency.comments@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Land-Care would welcome comments contributing
to discussion of the revised plan. Please send your comments to
editor@land-care.org.uk.
DEFRA's Foot and Mouth Disease Contingency Plan
DEFRA News Release
28 March 2003
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
Telephone 020
7238 1133
Fax 020 7238 5529
Out of hours telephone 020 7270
8960
Out of hours fax 020 7270 8125
Website www.defra.gov.uk
Animal Health Minister Elliot Morley today announced
the laying before Parliament of Defra’s Foot and Mouth Disease
Contingency Plan.
The Plan was laid in accordance with Section
18 of the Animal Health Act 2002, which came into force yesterday.
Unveiled in a written Ministerial statement, the
Plan sets out the operational arrangements Defra intends to put
in place to deal with any occurrence of foot and mouth disease,
and records the policy on which the operational arrangements are
based.
It has been the subject of considerable consultation
with stakeholders. As a ‘living document’, it is expected
that it will be subject to ongoing revision taking on the latest
scientific advice, developments in policy and comments from stakeholders
and operational partners.
The Plan will be reviewed at least annually to
meet the provisions of the Animal Health Act.
The Contingency Plan can be found on the Defra
website at
www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/contingency/contingency.htm
with an e-mail box for comments.
Notes to Editors
1. Section 18 of the Animal Health Act 2002 requires
that the appropriate authority must prepare a document (the national
contingency plan) indicating the arrangements the authority intends
to put in place for the purpose of dealing with any occurrence of
foot and mouth disease and requires that that document be laid before
Parliament.
2. This revised version of the Contingency Plan
takes into account comments received, operational additions to the
Plan and lessons learned from exercises.
3. The Plan replaces the version published on
Defra’s website on 6 November 2002, following the Government’s
response to the Foot and Mouth Disease inquiry reports. As a result
of developments it now includes:
- The provision of a register of Defra staff
available for service in an emergency;
- Operational arrangements for emergency vaccination;
- Arrangements for engaging valuers and the call
up of monitor valuers;
- Reference to a planned review of the responsibility
for undertaking and funding secondary cleansing and disinfection;
- Reference to the availability of detailed instructions
on procurement and commercial contracting;
- An outline of key regional/operational stakeholder
capabilities;
- A new section on the role of the Rural Stress
Action Plan Working Group – liaison with volunteer and charity
organisations who can offer support;
- A new section outlining the role of legal
services within Defra;
- The Plan now reflects the provisions of the
Animal Health Act 2002. Cross references have been added to documents
currently out for consultation - the revised “Decision Tree”
for disease control strategies against FMD including emergency
vaccination, a Disease Control Slaughter Protocol for the use
of the pre-emptive cull and revised biosecurity guidance;
- Enhancements have been made to strategic level
procedures and detailed tactical level procedures are now set
out;
- An outline of the operational level response
is also provided.
4. Operational Instructions to carry out the requirements
of this contingency plan are contained within VIPER (Veterinary
Instructions, Procedures and Emergency Routines) Chapter 3. The
existing VIPER Chapter 3 is available to the public in the Defra
library, Room 320A, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR
and may be viewed by appointment by telephoning: 020 7 238 6575
(please allow 24 hours notice). Detailed local office plans which,
amongst other information, provide contact lists for the provision
of resources and contractors also support this Plan.
5. As part of further improving the response of
the Department to an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease, work is
ongoing to consolidate the existing version of Chapter 3 into a
web based document. This is a major project as it is also capturing
and collating experiences gained during 2001 to allow a consistent
response based on best practices identified during and following
the outbreak. Once the new version is completed, potentially this
summer, it will be published on Defra’s website as a supporting
document to this Contingency Plan.
6. The Welsh Assembly will be putting its Plan
to Assembly members in Cardiff shortly. The Scottish Executive has
set out its FMD Contingency Plan to stakeholders earlier this year.
The Executive is not bound by the Animal Health Act 2002.
Press enquiries: 0207 238 6698
Public enquiries: 08459 335577
Press notices are available on our website
www.defra.gov.uk
End
Further Reading Recommended by Land-Care
Marshall, Mary (2003). Comments on DEFRA’s FMD Contingency
Plan, Version 2.5.
(Filed 12 March 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
National Foot and Mouth Group (2003). DEFRA Consultation on FMD
Contingency Plan. Response by National Foot and Mouth Group (NFMG).
(Filed 11 March 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click here
to view).
FMD Forum (2003). Response to DEFRA FMD Contingency Plan.
(Filed 23 January 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
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