Note of the third meeting of consumer representatives and membership organisations with the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), 28th April 2006
Present
Consumer organisations
- Susan Knox, Chair, Foodaware and Veterinary Residues Committee
- Stella Nicholas, Honorary Secretary, National Consumers' Federation
- Sylvia Owen, Vice President, National Council of Women
- Sue Payne, Vice Chair, Foodaware
- Dorothy Craig, Chair, Veterinary Residues Committee
- Jill Moss, MRSA Sub Group
- Barbara Saunders, Over thirty month rule testing implementation group
- John Verrall, Veterinary Products Committee
- Ann Davison: Consumer Engagement Project
Officials
- Debby Reynolds, Chief Veterinary Officer (part of meeting)
- Katrina Williams, Director
- Alison Reeves, Project co-ordinator and Head of Animal Movements
- Sarah Church, Avian Influenza, Head of Division
- Will Cresswell, Avian Influenza, Contingency Planning
- Ian Aitken, Avian Influenza
- Andrew Jones, Avian Influenza
- Paul Gayford, Foodborne Zoonoses
- Frances Radcliffe, BSE
The agenda reflected consumer interests expressed in the feedback sheets from the last meeting and specific requests. Avian influenza contingency planning was at the request of Foodaware and Foodborne zoonoses (E coli) and bovine tuberculosis (BTB) pre-movement cattle testing was at the request of the National Council of Women.
Consumer engagement
Katrina Williams said that the CVO would join the meeting shortly to cover avian influenza. She reported that the consumer engagement project had made good progress and would be continued for one year in order to maximise its impact. In particular she drew attention to the new consumer part of the Defra website.
Consumer organisations suggested including the development of guidelines for lay/consumer members of Defra committees into the project. They welcomed the use of cover sheets and felt they were being consulted more regularly both through written consultation and through invitations to meetings. They would welcome their details being circulated to other Defra Directorate Generals on issues such as organic production. Ann Davison reported that, in response to interest expressed by consumer organisations, the Marine and Fisheries Directorate had updated its contact list for consultations and had invited a consumer representative to join its strategic stakeholder group.
Also, EU and UK policy on fish and shellfish health had just been transferred to the Animal Health and Welfare Directorate General. This covered control measures for outbreaks of fish/shellfish disease (including contingency planning) and import controls on live fish and shellfish and was headed by David Mullin.
Government had recognised the capacity-building needs of the voluntary sector through an initiative called Changeup. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate had called a liaison meeting with consumer representatives on 9 June.
World Organisation for Animal Health
Consumers had been represented at a recent Defra stakeholder meeting on the World Organisation for Animal Health. The next opportunity to comment would be later in the summer when the relevant part of the website would be updated with the new version of the animal health code. The members of the stakeholder group would be alerted and written comments invited.
Animal welfare
Defra was consulting on how new EU rules for the welfare of animals during transport would be applied in England.
They covered those transporting vertebrate animals in connection with an economic activity, including hauliers and farmers transporting animals to market. From 5 January 2007 anyone transporting vertebrate animals over 65km would have to be specifically authorised, all vehicles used to transport animals over 8 hours would have to be inspected and approved against new standards, and from 5 January 2008, drivers and attendants on journeys over 65km must hold a certificate of competence if transporting horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs or poultry.
Pet animals accompanied by their owner on a private journey were not covered, nor was taking pets to and from a specialist show or competition, where the main purpose was for pleasure or competition, rather than as part of a business, e.g. pet breeders. Also, horses and ponies transported by an owner for the purpose of riding or showing or competing for pleasure, e.g. point-to-point, were excluded. So too were people attending shows or competitions mainly for pleasure but sharing petrol costs for example, without the driver making a profit. Also, journeys to or from a veterinary practice or clinic under veterinary instruction were not covered.
Of course, all journeys remained subject to general welfare conditions.
In response to questions, Defra replied that there was no conflict with the Animal Welfare Bill. Regarding the inspection service, Defra would identify suitable bodies by the Autumn, then provide publicity. Lorries doing long journeys abroad would be prioritised. The consumer representatives felt that this proposed legislation was going in the right direction. A consumer cover sheet would be made available on this consultation to those organisations expressing an interest.
Avian influenza
Debby Reynolds, the Chief Veterinary Officer, joined the meeting and stressed the importance she attached to speaking to consumer representatives at such a key time. She described the extent of contingency planning which had culminated in a real time simulation called ‘Exercise Hawthorn’. This had been started on 5 April with excellent co-operation from different parts of government, but the CVO decided to call a halt when notified of a case of avian flu in Cellardyke, Scotland. This happened late in the afternoon. By 6.45pm, the CVO had confirmed the disease and a 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone was placed around the area where the bird was found. A Wild Bird Risk Area was also declared within an area of 2,500 square km, where keepers were required to bring poultry inside. This response was taken on the advice of ornithologists about the location of swan populations in the area. Kept birds, including free range poultry, within the Wild Bird Risk Area had to be housed or otherwise separated from wild birds, and increased wild bird surveillance was being carried out.
The bird was later identified as a whooper swan by DNA testing and proved to be the only positive case of H5N1 avian influenza in over 8,000 wild birds tested since January 2006.
At the time of the meeting, low pathogenic avian flu (later found to be H7N3) was suspected at a broiler breeder poultry farm near Dereham, Norfolk. In a very precautionary response, the suspected premises and a nearby hatchery had both been placed under restrictions, along with other linked premises belonging to the same company. A decision was taken to slaughter on suspicion on 26 April and epidemiological tracing was well under way under the supervision of the Local Disease Control Centre, which had been set up in Bury St Edmunds.
Consumer representatives asked about housing and welfare issues. The CVO replied that the first task was to ensure all farmers knew they were in the Protection Zone. Regarding housing, the EU Directive was appropriately flexible so that adapting existing sheds or building extensions and using netting to keep wild birds separate from poultry were all acceptable. Welfare issues would be an important consideration in any outbreak.
Defra reported on three aspects of disease control policy – vaccination, meat marketing and withdrawal of meat. Produce from the Protection Zone around any infection could be marketed subject to veterinary inspection for absence of infection. It was not allowed to be exported and so would carry slightly different identification marking. This would also help ensure that it could not be incidentally introduced into the animal feed chain.
Withdrawal was a highly precautionary policy but it did not extend to product recall. The aim was to prevent any inadvertent spread of infection to other animals. Withdrawal from shops would take place if an infection were identified on a farm and produce had already been marketed. Vaccination of birds was permissible in certain circumstances on the basis of a plan submitted to the EU and agreed.
Consumer representatives had appreciated being included in various Defra briefing meetings on avian flu. They felt that produce from Protection Zones should be marked and traceable but there was no need for consumer labelling nor for supermarkets to refuse stock. The EU arrangements for produce withdrawal and for marketing needed to be implemented in a robust way. Care should be taken to ensure compliance in the whole range of retail outlets.
Consumer representatives said that discussion had led to a stronger view amongst them that, subject to assurances at the time as to its effectiveness in preventing disease, vaccination would be acceptable. There were different views about how quickly such a decision should be made. Many were not concerned about the proper use of vaccination (properly approved and implemented) because it was used so frequently against a range of other diseases.
Defra drew attention to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) advice that proper use of vaccines to vaccinate birds against avian flu did not pose any health concerns. The epidemiological evidence was that the risk of catching the disease came from being in close and prolonged contact with live poultry that had the disease, and not through eating properly cooked poultry or eggs.
In response to questions, Defra advised that there was no need for pet owners to change their feeding methods at the current level of risk. It was difficult for mammals to catch avian flu via food. Current knowledge indicated that avian influenza H5N1 infection had never been transmitted to humans from animals other than domestic poultry. If it were possible for humans to catch avian flu from a low dose there would have been more deaths than the just over 100 very sad cases recorded worldwide.
Foodborne zoonoses
The three main foodborne pathogens in animals were salmonella, campylobacter and verocytotoxic E coli O157.
Zoonoses Directive
The Eureopean Food Safety Authority (EFSA) had just published its report on ‘Trends and Sources of Zoonoses, Zoonotic Agents and Antimicrobial Resistance in the European Union in 2004’. Several copies would be provided.
Publication of the EU wide survey for salmonella in layer flocks had unfortunately been delayed. Meanwhile, an EU wide broiler survey was underway and surveys for salmonella in turkeys and pigs was being planned. There had been a fall in human incidences of salmonella enteritidis phage type 4, the type of enteritidis most commonly isolated from animals in UK. This might in part reflect the action that has been taken to improve the situation in animals. Similarly, human infection with campylobacter had fallen.
Campylobacter
There were no specific legislative controls in farm livestock for the
control of campylobacter infections, not least because infections in livestock
tended to be widespread and unapparent, but Defra supported the FSA campaign
to reduce the level of infection in broiler flocks. In addition Defra
had a significant research programme.
For example, a project, “Survival and persistence of campylobacters:
poultry farm environments and identification of control measures”
was researching a possible method to type campylobacters so they could
be traced through the food chain; something which was very difficult.
Another project jointly funded with the FSA would, amongst other things, deliver, for the first time, a national prevalence survey for campylobacter, in line with European Community suggested guidelines. Other projects covered campylobacter in dogs, and vaccination.
Verocytotoxin producing E coli O157
E coli was a widespread bacteria and a number produced verocytotoxins. VTEC O157 was one of these and could produce severe infections in humans. It was mainly carried by ruminant species, cattle, sheep and goats, but did not tend to produce any disease in these species making control measures on farm difficult.
There had been surveys in cattle, sheep and pigs in 2000 and again in 2003 that found VTEC O157 in around 5% of cattle, 1 to 2 % of sheep and rarely in pigs.
Where human cases were identified as possibly resulting from farm contact, the Veterinary Laboratory Agency (VLA), if requested by a Consultant in Communicable Disease Control (CCDC), visited farms and took samples. Advice was provided to the farmer if VTEC O157 were identified. Where an outbreak involved more than one person an outbreak control team was often set up by the CCDC.
Defra supported the FSA clean livestock policy, which was important in reducing the risk of contamination of meat. The levels of VTEC O157 rose in the nineties but since then had tended to settle with occasional peaks associated in general with specific outbreaks.
Consumer representatives asked how Defra applied pressure to make sure farms sustained these improvements. Paul Gayford replied that there was a lot of pressure from Defra and retailers for high standards of biosecurity.
BSE
Frances Radcliffe confirmed that, in line with the discussion with consumer
representatives at the meeting of 1st November
(14 KB) and their responses to the consultation exercise, the FSA had
agreed that butcher shops should be able to continue to remove vertebral
column from cattle aged 24-30 months. However, also in line with consumers’
views, the FSA would not allow butcher shops to remove vertebral column
from cattle aged over 30 months, nor cutting plants to remove head meat.
Defra also confirmed that 83 cattle born before August 1996 had been presented at fresh meat slaughterhouses and been destroyed without compensation, which was a real deterrent. In addition, every opportunity was being taken to publicise the Older Cattle Disposal Scheme and that it was illegal to slaughter cattle born before August 1996 for human consumption. A new poster had been produced for display at animal markets etc. No older cattle born before August 1996 had escaped into the food chain because all were crosschecked against the records of their dates of birth.
Animal movements and identification
Defra continued work to improve the system for recording animal movements and identification including through the consolidation and review of the Cattle Identification Regulations. Comments on the consultation were due by 21 June. The main proposals related to the abolition of temporary calf passports to give the purchaser more confidence that the animal was properly identified and a change to the way in which late applications for cattle passports were handled based on DNA testing. Basic requirements for tagging, passports, record keeping and notifications to the cattle tracing system remained the same.
Consumer representatives welcomed these proposals. Those wishing to make detailed comments were referred to the consultation document.
BTB
Katrina Williams reported that Defra had received over 40,000 responses to its recent consultation. Cattle can harbour and pass on BTB, so pre-movement testing was important and an information note on this was tabled. Wildlife, especially badgers, was a factor too and ministers were considering the best way forward on a policy package.Any other business
John Verrall said that he had proposed to lodge a minority report to the Veterinary Products Committee report on hormones and was awaiting a reply from the minister. Dorothy Craig raised the issue of budget reductions for non-statutory inspections of veterinary residues since consumers attached importance to rigorous implementation of legislation and the inclusion of imports. Stella Nicholas said that the National Consumers' Federation welcomed its inclusion in Defra meetings on animal welfare and expressed serious concern at reports in the press of severe cases of cruelty to turkeys. Defra was following up these issues with the company concerned. The consumer representatives asked for more information about farm assurance schemes and it was agreed to provide this.
Date of next meeting
It was agreed that quarterly meetings would be useful and that inclusion of fish health and a veterinary medicines subject would be of value.
Page last modified:
May 23, 2008
Page published: July 27, 2006