Animal Health and Welfare Stakeholder Meeting

Chair Sheila Voas, Chief Veterinary Officer in the chair.
27 attendees inc QMS, IAAS, NFU, SBCA.

Welfare of pet rabbits – Rabbits Require Rights requesting rabbit specific legislation but will be included in update pet legislation.

OV training and fee arrangements – Sheila Voas
No longer Animal Health Vets who will train local vets! Now changed to online training using Improve International. Nothing contentious here.

Disease surveillance presentation – Brian Hosie
BrH provided the group with an update on disease surveillance from the various expert groups where SAC Consulting are represented.
Recirculation of Schmallenberg virus in Europe therefore sampling in SW England.
Sheep and Pigs: no diseases reported causing immediate risk to meat supplies.
Avian: H5N8 outbreak in Yorkshire duck farm on 18 November was contained.
Current Johne's disease has the greatest concern to livestock sector in Scotland.

Endemic disease surveillance – David Logue
Paper with Cabinet Secretary at moment and that limited what could be said. Sheep industry made a request for focus on their industry. Sheep scab, although successful, could not be contained previously. They were invited to put forward a suggestion since nothing jumped out.

Update on research commissioning – Sheila Voas
Moredun and SRCC are tendering. Stakeholders asked to support tenders.

Update on EU Animal Health Regulation – Ian Murdoch
Package of five as part of programme – smarter rules for safer food.
SV on UK Core group, Scottish stakeholders led by NFUS would like to be involved once suggestions are clearer.

Proposal raised by IAAS to remove dentition as means of ageing sheep that require splitting. Suggestion that sheep should have a birthday of 1st June annually. Discussion is ongoing within TSE Road Map at UK level.

Next meeting will be held in April.