FMD: Disease Control (Slaughter) Protocol
Introduction
1. The Lessons Learned Inquiry on
the 2001 Foot-and-Mouth Disease
outbreak recommended that provision should be made for the possible
application of pre-emptive culling policies, if justified by well-informed
veterinary and scientific advice, and judged to be appropriate to the
circumstances. Such powers for pre-emptive (or preventive or "firebreak")
culling of animals not exposed to FMD infection are included in the Animal
Health Act 2002. It adds to the armoury the Government has to fight FMD
by getting ahead of the disease and stopping it spreading.
2. Section 32B of the Animal Health
Act 1981, as amended by the Animal
Health Act 2002, requires the Secretary of State to have a disease control
(slaughter) protocol for the use of the new slaughter power in the Act
(Schedule 3, paragraph 3(c)) to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease
(FMD). This would be a pre-emptive or “firebreak” cull.
3. This power cannot be used unless
the protocol has been published and
vaccination has first been considered to prevent the spread of disease
(Section 14 of the Animal Health Act 1981 as amended). The reasons for
not
using vaccination would be published. The factors to be considered in
deciding on the measures to be used to tackle an outbreak of FMD are set
out in a separate document - FMD Disease Control Strategies, referred
to as the FMD Decision Tree. The purpose of this disease control (slaughter)
protocol is to identify criteria to be considered and procedures to be
followed should it be considered necessary to call on this new slaughter
power.
Purpose for which the power would
be used
4. This power would be used only
where this is justified by the circumstances of the possibility of disease
spreading and on the basis of sound veterinary, epidemiological and scientific
advice. Emergency vaccination would have been considered first and if
not used the reasons would be published.
The principal factors to be taken
into account
5. A major factor will be to get
ahead of the disease. It could apply in particular to protect areas of
dense livestock population. The cull would
include those animals which, should they become affected, would present
a
significant risk to the farming and livestock community more generally
by
contributing to onward spread. It is in such circumstances that effective
preventative action may be necessary to safeguard the wider public interest.
Species, geographical area and, if appropriate, type of farming would
be
relevant. Any decision to use the wider powers of slaughter would be taken
in
the light of an overall assessment of the risks, costs and benefits in
a given
situation. This could include not only risks of transmission but also
social and
economic risks that would arise if effective and timely action were not
taken.
The procedure to be followed in
reaching a decision
6. Such a decision could not be made
until the use of emergency vaccination had been considered and, if not
used, the reasons published.
7. The steps to be taken would then
comprise:
- the identification of a group of animals that are likely to contribute
to spread of disease, based on epidemiological modelling, veterinary
advice and local factors;
- the determination of which species are involved;
- consideration of exemptions on the basis of husbandry or other criteria,
for example, rare breeds or genetic value;
- the determination of the geographical area involved;
- the determination of the rules for inclusion or exclusion of animals
at the boundary of that area;
- analysis of risks, costs and benefits;
- the publication of an outline of the reasons why such a cull is needed.
The procedure by which animals on
a premises will be deemed to be included in a slaughter
8. Premises believed to contain
animals to be slaughtered to prevent the spread of disease would be identified.
A Veterinary Inspector would visit and
ascertain if animals meet the criteria and are to be slaughtered.
9. The Veterinary Inspector would
be required to explain the reasons to the owner and give him an opportunity
to provide evidence if he believed the
animals should be exempted. To ensure the reason for slaughter is clear
to
the owner a slaughter notice would be issued. The slaughter notice would
state the powers under which slaughter is required and the reason why
the
owner's stock is included (with reference to the criteria for slaughter
to prevent the spread of disease).
The means by which a particular
decision to slaughter can be reviewed
10. Both as part of the slaughter
notice and during explanations the owner
must be made aware that they can ask the DVM to review the decision that
their stock meet the criteria for the cull and be advised how and by when
this
can be done.
11. The DVM, or a suitable alternative,
must be available to hear such
reviews. The following action would be taken:
- They will consider the views of the owner as to why they believe the
decision is wrong.
- They must ensure that the veterinary inspector has carried out a
full and fair inquiry to establish if the animals meet the appropriate
criteria.
Defra
March 2003
Page last modified:
14 January, 2008
