Defra's Exotic Animal Disease Generic Contingency Plan was laid before Parliament last week.

The plan is amended annually and is produced for Defra. It includes an overarching plan for dealing with a range of exotic animal diseases, as well as plans for responding to specific diseases including Foot and Mouth Disease, Avian Influenza and, for the first time, Rabies and Bluetongue.

The Contingency Plan can be accessed on the Defra website at: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/control/contingency/index.htm