The country's ability to
prevent a future pandemic has been significantly enhanced today
(Tuesday 24th June) with the announcement of a £1 billion
investment in a new National Biosecurity Centre.
This funding will deliver the next phase of a new National
Biosecurity Centre - a cutting-edge scientific campus in Surrey
that will serve as the UK's foremost animal biosecurity
facility.
The investment is one part of
the new National Security Strategy, to be published today, which
marks a step change in this country's approach to securing
British interests whilst also creating jobs, wages, and growth
for the British people as part of the Government's Plan for
Change.
Animal disease outbreaks represent a serious and increasing risk
to public health, food security, and the UK economy.
Approximately 60% of all known human infectious diseases are
zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans.
Furthermore, about 75% of emerging infectious diseases originate
in animals, making the fight against these diseases about human
health and security too.
Without strong and modernised
biosecurity infrastructure, disease incursions could severely
impact our farmers, agricultural production, devastate rural
communities and disrupt key supply chains. The export of
livestock, meat and meat products, dairy and animal by-products
is worth £16 billion per year alone to the UK economy.
The funding will now enhance
the country's detection, surveillance and control capabilities
for high-risk animal diseases such as avian influenza, foot and
mouth disease and African swine fever, whilst enhancing our
ability to manage concurrent disease
outbreaks.
Environment Secretary
said:
“The first role of any
Government is national security.
“That is why we are making a
record investment into the nation's biosecurity capabilities, and
in turn our national security, after years of chronic
underfunding.
“Farmers and food producers
will now be better protected from diseases, our food security
strengthened, and public health better safeguarded against future
pandemics. This government is getting on with delivering on our
Plan for Change.”
The new National Biosecurity
Centre will play an essential role in addressing the full range
of biological threats we face, including from hostile nations,
and will ensure that the UK retains the scientific capability,
infrastructure and expertise needed to lead international efforts
to identify, manage, and mitigate disease threats in the years
ahead.
The high containment
laboratories for animal health, run by the Animal & Plant
Health Agency at Weybridge in Surrey, urgently need renewal to
handle escalating disease risks, which are growing in the face of
our changing climate. The Government inherited laboratories in
poor condition with their long-term future in doubt and the
country facing increased risk without action.
The new facility will join a
network of national centres set up by the Cabinet Office under
the UK Biological Security Strategy and announced in the National
Security Strategy. This new network of government laboratories
provides a sovereign capability that keeps the public safe and is
essential to responding to biological security risks.
The network will strengthen and formalise existing collaborations
between the UK Health Security Agency, the Animal and Plant
Health Agency and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.
It will ensure we are better prepared for a crisis, can respond
more effectively when an incident does happen and deliver a more
holistic approach to biological research.
Jenny Stewart, Senior
Science Director at the Animal and Plant Health Agency,
said:
“This funding is a vital
milestone in the delivery of a world-leading facility that will
protect the UK from animal disease threats for decades to
come.
“Our scientists and specialists
at Weybridge are at the heart of the UK's disease surveillance
and response capability and provide a global centre of
expertise.
“Investment on this scale will
enable them to continue their critical work in modern,
fit-for-purpose facilities, supported by the very latest
technologies.”
Preparatory work at the
Weybridge site is already underway. Planning Consent has been
secured, and a contractor has been appointed to build the main
new facilities. The first interim labs to support critical
science while we transform the site will be ready in 2027 and
2028. The main construction works start in 2027, with the full
NBC live and operational in 2033/34.
ENDS
Notes to
editors
- Approximately 60% of all known human infectious diseases are
zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans.
Furthermore, about 75% of emerging infectious diseases originate
in animals: One Health - WOAH - World Organisation for Animal
Health
