Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs,
, has today [Monday 10
December] published the recommendations of a review into the
Quarantine Unit scheme, a year on since its introduction.
The Quarantine Unit (QU) scheme was introduced in September
2017, at the request of the Welsh farming industry. It
replaced Isolation Facilities as the optional exemption to the
six day standstill rule (6DSS) to allow maximum flexibility of
movement whilst safeguarding the biosecurity of Welsh
farms.
The six day standstill rule was established following the
Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak in 2001, and is important in
limiting the spread of the disease.
The Cabinet Secretary committed to conducting a review of
the QU scheme to address some of the concerns raised by
stakeholders and identify any areas for improvement.
The review has identified nine recommendations for
improvement two of which could be implemented before the
end of the year, with the remaining seven to be consideration in
the New Year.
Before the end of the year, the review recommends improved
communications between the Welsh Government and stakeholders
through future events and simplified guidance. In addition,
it recommends QU guidance in relation to TB to be revisited and
where appropriate clarified.
In the New Year, the review makes seven further
recommendations for consideration:
-
Explore the possibility of amending the 24 hour reporting
rule, allowing farmers to report the activation of a QU within
24 hours, whilst the individual animal movements are completed
within three days;
-
Explore the possibility of developing a grant scheme for
QU certification this will help farmers meet the initial
cost of certification;
-
Explore group farm certification and renewal inspections
by the certification body;
-
Assess whether the certification body can combine QU
visits with other visits to further reduce costs;
-
Allow greater discretion for QU inspectors when
considering compliance with requirements (e.g. the use of
natural barriers around QU s);
-
Ask the certification body to streamline the renewal
inspection process for QU s; and
-
Continue to collect animal movement data concerning
animal movements from Welsh holdings to agricultural
shows.
Cabinet Secretary said: We introduced the
Quarantine Unit scheme, following consultation and close
collaboration with the sector, to provide an alternative for
farmers to the six day standstill rule and enable multiple
movements to agricultural shows.
Over the last few months my officials have conducted
a review to address some of the issues that have arisen in the
first year of the scheme. This has resulted in nine
recommendations which I have accepted.
I hope they go some way to address concerns and I am
confident they will help improve the QU system which plays such
an important role in minimising the spread of disease. We
will continue to review the scheme over the coming
years.
Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Christianne Glossop,
said: Our priority remains keeping diseases out of
Wales. Prior to the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in 2001,
standstill periods did not exist and multiple and long distance
movements were responsible for the significant spread of
disease.
The six day standstill remains important in ensuring
the biosecurity of this country but QUs provide farmers with
flexibility whilst reducing the risk of disease spreading.
