Defra has today published reports from the Health and SafetyExecutive and Professor Brian Spratt, of Imperial College London,into the recent outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Surrey. The report is available here.

Initial laboratory tests on the samples taken this morning from the cattle on the holding in Surrey where disease was suspected have indicated the presence of Foot and Mouth Disease.

On the basis of these initial laboratory results and clinical symptoms…

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has today released details of the strategy for rolling out vaccination across England.

Under EU law, vaccination can only be carried out in a Protection Zone. As vaccine starts to…

Defra has announced that the Bluetongue Protection Zone will be extended again on Monday 7 July, following the delivery by Intervet of almost 2 million additional doses of Bluetongue vaccine.
 
Vaccination is only permitted within the Protection Zone. In…

Defra has announced that the Bluetongue Protection Zone will be extended again on Monday 21 July, following the delivery by Intervet of almost 2 million additional doses of Bluetongue serotype 8 (BTV-8) vaccine.
 
Vaccination is only permitted within the…

Defra has announced the detection of Bluetongue in 18 imported cattle on premises near Bishop Auckland, County Durham.  The animals originated from within the BTV8 Restricted Zone in Germany and were detected as a result of post-import testing carried out…

Defra has announced the detection of Bluetongue (Serotype 1) (BTV1) in five imported cattle on a premises near Blackpool in Lancashire.

The animals originated from within the BTV1 and 8 Restricted Zone in the south west of France and were detected…

Defra has announced that Great Britain is to be declared bluetongue-free from 5th July 2011.

From this date, bluetongue susceptible species being exported from Great Britain will no longer need to be vaccinated against BTV8 or meet any of the other 'Annex…

From the beginning of October this year, the electronic recording of pig movements will be written into legislation.

Following a recent consultation, Defra intends to amend the existing Pigs, Records, Identification and Movements Order (PRIMO) 2007…

Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) has announced the formation of a new independent advisory group to recommend a future delivery model for veterinary surveillance in England and Wales.

The Advisory Group will be chaired by Dirk…

From today, porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED) is a notifiable disease in England; veterinary surgeons and pig-keepers are now legally required to inform the Animal and Plant Health Agency of any suspicion of the disease.

If a test for PED proves positive…

The Government has announced that England is set to apply for Officially TB-Free (OTF) status for more than half of the country next year - two years ahead of schedule.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) says this is evidence…

CCTV will be mandatory in all slaughterhouses in England under new plans announced today by Environment Secretary Michael Gove.

CCTV will be required in all areas where live animals are present, with unrestricted access to footage for Official Veterinarians…

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published an updated draft code of practice for the welfare of meat chickens and meat breeding chickens, following a consultation last year.

The draft code contains twenty recommendations…

Legislation to make CCTV cameras mandatory in slaughterhouses in England has been laid before Parliament by Environment Secretary Michael Gove.

The legislation will come into effect from May 2018, at which point businesses will have six months to comply…

Defra has released new data showing that new outbreaks of bovine TB have fallen in the two areas that have now completed their licensed four-year badger culls.

In the Somerset cull area, TB incidence has fallen from 24% before culling started to 12%…