Animal Health and Welfare General Stakeholder Meeting – February 2019

Attendees
Penny Middleton (PM) NFUS
Mike Flynn (MFl) SSPCA
Mara Rocchi (MR) Moredun
May Fujiwara (MF) EPIC
Emma Bradbury (EB) NFUS
Martin Morgan (MM) SAMW
Ian McWatt (IMcW) FSS
Neil McCorkindale (NM) SBA
Vivienne Mackinnon (VM) APHA
Andrew Wright (AW) IAAS

Sheila Voas (SV) chair SG AHWD
Nick Ambrose (NA) SG AHWD
Martyn Blissitt (MB) SG AHWD
Rebecca Miller (RM) SG AHWD
Andrew Voas (AV) SG AHWD
Alastair Douglas (AD) SG AHWD
Ian J Murdoch (IM) SG AHWD
Ian Murdoch (IM2) SG AHWD
Phil Burns (PB) SG AHWD
Bill Hepburn (BH) SG AHWD
Nicola Gibb (NG) SG AHWD
Sam McDonald (SM) SG AHWD
Elizabeth Tidy (ET) SG AHWD
Sarah Gallagher (SG) SG AHWD
Alison Knox (AK) SG AHWD
Louise Young (LY) minutes SG AHWD

1. Welcome and Introductions

2. Minutes from the last meeting (26th November 2018)

Everyone happy with minutes.

BVD action point discussed – NA: phase 5 will be implemented first and further phase considered by advisory group.

Bovine EID action – SV: will close it and continue it within EID group.

3. EU Exit – Bill Hepburn

BH: 4 main points: contingency planning, imports and exports, access to labour and veterinary medicine.

Contingency planning – legislation in place so law can roll over on exit day, looking at impact on food sector if no deal.

Import and exports – Continuation of trade is main priority. UK will no longer have access to TRACES (Trade Control and Expert System) so working on a replacement (IPAFFS), which should be in place for exit day. The UK has applied to the EU for approved third country status to allow exports of animals and animal products to continue, and negotiations are continuing.

Access to labour – there will no longer be automatic recognition of professional qualifications. Slaughtermen will need UK certificates of competence. The RCVS (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) will govern mutual recognition of veterinary qualifications, which should allow for recognition of most EU qualified vets. The UK will recognise EU certificates of competence for animal transporters (for a limited period), but the EU will not recognise UK certificates.

Veterinary medicine – reasonably confident supplies can be maintained for initial months due to availability of ferry space retained by the UK Government and stockpiling. Veterinary medicines currently regulated by EU, but UK will take on that role, and the Veterinary Medicine Directorate (VMD) is considering what new processes need to be put in place.

NM asked if focussing on UK or devolved powers. BH explained that currently the EU sets the broad legal and policy parameters, within which devolved administrations can make their own decisions. Discussions underway to consider how the EU's role will be replaced in a way that balances UK level and devolved interests.

AW asked for assurance for trade. SV said the UK will still work to EU standards after exit date but cannot guarantee trade won't be affected. Was further asked about trade within UK, and was assured that there would be no change to the rules governing intra-UK trade in the period immediately following a no deal exit. It was emphasised that the points made in the presentation and subsequent questions applied to animal health only, not plant health.

4. Animal Welfare Update – Phil Burns

PB: Gave update on welfare consultation for fixed penalty notices (FPNs), increased sentences for animal cruelty, and rehoming of seized animals; sanctuaries and rehomers; awareness campaign on illegal breeding and legislation for CCTV in abattoirs. Other Programme for Government commitments were also updated.

AV: update of guidance on meat chickens, laying hens and pigs.

PM asked if there was a list of what attracted FPNs and process for deciding on them. PB: currently no animal welfare breaches attract FPNs, need to open and amend current regulations to bring these in as a power or include in regulations for new welfare topics. AV: currently asking for power as alternative to legal proceedings, secondary legislation would introduce penalties. NA: equine identification regulations is an example. PM: could it apply to Animal Health too? SV: Possibility in future.

MM asked about CCTV controls in Scotland vs England. Legislation is not yet made but would expect discussion with industry.

Action – SV to reply to Martin via formal letter.

5. Sheep ageing on islands – Ian Murdoch

IM – explained new sheep ageing method for SRM removal of a cut-off date rather than dentition. Explained industry in Scotland had agreed to the change using self-declaration method and had been signed off my ministers. Implementation is taking longer than anticipated as DEFRA want to consult retailers. Also concern over no deal Brexit as alternative methods (including cut-off date) are relating to member states and may not allow us to trade as a third country. Clarified dentition would be used for time being. NA: meeting with DEFRA on Monday.

MM – already going to be trade issues so this won't change that. AW – disappointed and don't understand why it's not been sorted yet when industry and ministers have agreed. Was made clear by SV and IMcW that everyone feels the same. AW: Can we go ahead as a devolved matter? SV – Potentially, could cause trade difficulties but have to decide which disruption is better – will be a future conversation with stakeholders and ministers.

NM: Discussion on worst case scenario welfare plans with lambs post Brexit. AW: We would not support welfare scheme, compensation should go to producers.

Action – SV to request that Andrew W, Penny and Martin/SAMW (Martin cannot attend himself but pass on to SAMW) get invited to meeting on Monday 4th with DEFRA on carcass splitting.

6. AMR Plan – Rebecca Miller

RM: Explained new 20 year AMR vision and 5 year action plan. Aim to reduce antimicrobial usage in food producing animals by 25% between 2016 and 2020, stats show heading in right direction. New app is proposed to track data of medication history linked to individual animal movement data.

SV: work now going ahead in equine and small animals as well as livestock.

AW asked about use of ScotEID. NA: Yes it will be taken forward. SV: not compulsory to add information. AW: would be positive for markets. NM: Agreed, more focussed/reliable than declaration forms.

7. EPIC Update – May Fujiwara

MF: Brief introduction to EPIC. Main research underway: pig disease spread across UK through transportation; beef and dairy farms infected with BVD; effectiveness of sheep scab vaccinations; movement of hatching eggs in game sector. Have a disease blog and will be an exhibition at Royal Highland Show. Sharing knowledge and data with APHA is going well.

AD: African swine fever update after pig movement meeting: current concern of spread due to haulers practice. FSS currently monitoring vehicles on Brechin Abattoir for hygiene practices. Clarified hauliers weren't in attendance. Asked MM if he knew about disinfectant equipment in abattoirs but he didn't.

Action: MM to find out about disinfectant equipment in abattoirs.

Agreed that it should be pushed for more of pig industry to attend.

Action: SV to invite pig industry to attend next meeting.

8. African Swine Fever Communications – Alastair Douglas

AD: Update of African swine fever. Medium risk to UK, closest infected country is Belgium. Limitations on pig products being brought in/working with Border Force for biosecurity – also social media campaign. Risks include hunters, hauliers and 'dumped' pig products where feral pigs can access. France to create bore free zone (cull wild boar and test). EU controls should be robust enough to prevent spread, China most likely source.

PM: concerned about lack of engagement with Border Force – need more information at airports. AD: been reminding Border Force of cost of FMD to increase security, analysing effectiveness of social media campaign. SV: CVO meeting being organised with Border Force.

IMcW: wasn't aware processed meat could carry disease, only raw meat. AD confirmed salami had been source elsewhere.

9. TB Update – Martyn Blissitt

MB: figures will be finalised middle March but 12 new confirmed cases in 2018 – so low and stable and can apply for OTBF status again. Campbeltown update: no farms now under restriction.

European Health Regulation proposals from the EU Commission – Scotland currently clears herds with two clear tests two months apart. The Commission have brought forward a proposal to clear breakdown herds with two clear tests six months apart. Bad for Scotland, would result in a year under movement restrictions (affect beef more than dairy) – only a few herds would feel impacts but could risk business, financial and animal welfare implications. We would still have to do two tests two months apart s as well to prevent disease spread, SV has written to the Commission about derogation for TB free areas – rejected. SV wrote a letter second letter clarifying further and requesting a more limited derogation (awaiting reply).

SV: useful for responses to commission consultation explaining why it doesn't work in small areas.

Awaiting results of badger culling in Cumbria, cattle TB under control.

AW discussed problem that in Cumbria, neighbour had 28 days to move stock once case identified. MB offered to investigate.

NM asked when criteria for exempt testing was last looked at. MB: Last January when changes were made – only change was herd size change from 20 to 50. Stage one lasted four years, now one year onto stage two. 2/3 of herds in Scotland now exempt from testing.

Action – VM/MB to check rules in Cumbria and report to AW

Action – MB to send link to consultation for TB proposal to cattle stakeholders

10. Livestock Health Scotland – Industry Update – Penny Middleton

PM: been on road to explain calf lost surveys, running survey again this year. Project argyle delayed due to summer 18 hot weather – fluke problem was delayed, found resistance to TBZ so looking at alternative strategies on these holdings. Borders have calf loss problem linked to fertility issues, researching calf rates in those areas.

MM asked about funding, PM said it's an ongoing issue – Scottish Government have offered match funding.

NM: finding any resistance to white drench? PM: trialling alternative strategies.

General consensus it would be useful for SCOPs to be used more widely.

Action: MR to see if Phil Skuce attends SCOPs and report back.

11. AOB

IM: outlined consultation on amending TSE regulation – just putting in place actions that have been done administratively so up to date with EU before exit date. Confirmed to PM it was just technical changes.

PM asked about shortages of Lignocaine. VM said nothing had been passed on from vets or media. SV: wholesalers have additional supplies to last a few months in case of no deal Brexit.

SV: Peter Melens replaced by Lesley Mitchell, with Mick Park providing veterinary advice.

SV: apologised for no surveillance section, will put on agenda next time. PM said they were useful updates. Check GC will be present or send deputy.

12. Date of Next Meeting

Next meeting in May, will canvas for dates.