International Trade
Paul Townsend International Trade Programme Manager
The International Trade Programme provides a comprehensive laboratory testing service and consultancy on a broad range of animal health issues relating to the import and export of animals, animal feedstuffs and genetic material.
Angus Wear, Project Manager
Taking over as programme manager in April 2007 meant that almost my first task was to write a review of the preceding year, during which I had little involvement with the programme. Therefore I would like to open by thanking my predecessor Ian Mawhinney for all his efforts. I would also like to thank Angus Wear, who has acted and will continue as the Project Manager, as well as the rest of the team who have ensured that VLA’s reputation as a delivery-focused organisation has been enhanced again this year.
More than 80,000 tests have been carried out during the year and over 97% have been reported within the required turnaround time. This volume of testing provides useful surveillance data on diseases in the UK and can also screen for diseases being carried by animals arriving from abroad. This is particularly important for diseases not currently in the UK.
Animal feed samples for testing at VLA Luddington
Legislation in Great Britain requires that imported animals and animal feed are tested to confirm they are not carrying certain infections that are either, not present in GB or part of a national disease programme. Animals to be exported require certification to ensure they are free from specific infections and the main aim of the programme is to make sure that testing capability is not a barrier to international trade. This is achieved by providing a portfolio of tests for Defra’s import controls and export certificate requirements, continuing to improve service delivery through a co-operative relationship with Defra’s International Animal Health Division and to improve VLA’s financial position by maximising test efficiency and abolishing test subsidies. We also maintain a consultancy provision to Defra by in-house training and subcontracting where necessary and the vast majority of tests carried out are accredited under the UKAS ISO17025 Quality Standard, an independent inspection body specialising in internationally recognised standards. We are also ISO 9001 certified.
Examination of IFAT slides for Leishmania
VLA maintains over 150 types of test for import control and export certification that are carried out right across the Agency. During the year, a number of interesting individual findings arose. Serological testing of export samples from dogs in the UK suggested there had been an increase in the prevalence of Leptospira canicola. New vaccines may be implicated but interestingly, L.icterohaemorrhagiae had not increased to the same level.
In June 2006, several horses were
imported from Eire from a stud where an
outbreak of Equine Infectious Anaemia
was confirmed. The artificial insemination
stud had been visited by many high
quality British mares but samples of the
imported horses were negative when
tested using the OIE reference method.
A case of contagious equine metritis in a
horse on its way to Australia was
confirmed by PCR.
Tests on Farmed Animals for Export 2002-2007
As the UK ‘competent laboratory’ for the diagnosis of diseases in imported and captive avians, VLA hosted three inspectors from the Food and Veterinary Office of the European Commission as part of a mission to assess the UK’s control systems on imports of birds other than poultry. It was found to be fully in accordance with the requirements expected.
Following validation, by VLA, using positive samples obtained from Turkey and Portugal, the Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT) for Leishmania is now available. The requirement is restricted to exports to South Africa but approximately 35 dogs have been tested each month.
Pre-export tests have been carried out for a wide range of antibodies on huge consignments of pigs, for a growing range of countries including Russia, Ukraine, China and Japan.
Our main formal customer feedback process is via the annual VLA Customer Satisfaction Survey. In 2006/07, the programme received an overall customer satisfaction score of 92% against a target of 80%.
Comments received included:
“everyone concerned at VLA has been flexible and creative in responding to challenges and helping us to solve difficult problems of test interpretation as they arise”
“the disease consultancy provided has been well-directed to our needs. We have sought a wide range of advice and the opinions received have been exceptionally well focused”
“the service provided for routine testing was responsive and efficient. VLA also provided significant input to development of policy....”
“The International Trade Programme will continue to harness the diverse testing and disease expertise from across the Agency and its UK and international network of collaborators, to provide the highest level of service to its customers.”