Tuesday 9 December in
Room 6, Palace of Westminster
African Swine Fever cases in Spain, foot and mouth disease in
Germany, mounting cases of Avian Flu and Bluetongue in the UK –
systems and procedures for protecting the UK's biosecurity are
under mounting pressure.
sits down with the EFRA
Committee to discuss her responsibilities as Minister for
Biosecurity, Borders and Animals. She'll be joined by
the Government's chief vet, the chief plant health officer and
the director of biosecurity and trade in Northern Ireland.
Members will explore current threats at the UK's borders and
whether the Government has learnt lessons from previous occasions
such as the Foot and Mouth outbreak in Germany, last January. The
UK's plant biosecurity regime is also under significant pressure,
prompting questions about resilience to Xylella, Colorado Beetle
and other invasive pests that are present in the EU but not in
the UK.
Key differences between the UK and EU policy and the impact on an
SPS Agreement are likely to be explored. As negotiations on a
common agri-food area continue, port health authorities and staff
on the ground point to the fourth major policy change in six
years and the impact on working practices.
The Committee will follow up key manifesto commitments made by
Government to improve animal welfare. The Committee will also set
aside time to discuss proposals for veterinary practice reform.
Witnesses from 10am:
-
of Ullcock, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of
State (Minister for Biosecurity, Borders and Animals),
Defra
-
Dr Christine Middlemiss CB, Chief
Veterinary Officer, Defra
-
Professor Nicola
Spence CBE The UK Chief Plant
Health Officer, Defra
-
Mark Thompson, Director, Northern
Ireland, Biosecurity, and Trade Programme, Defra
