Responsibility and cost sharing

The huge question of how animal health and welfare should be funded – who should bear the costs of animal disease outbreaks, what controls should be put in place and who should bear the cost of these measures – has been rumbling on for many years. The latest development is that a series of Responsibility and Cost Sharing Workshops is being run at various locations across England throughout the remainder of February and the first half of March, which, we are promised, will give livestock producers an opportunity to contribute ideas on how a new system based on co-operation between government and farmers could operate.

DEFRA's press release states: "The Treasury spends £400 million per annum on Animal Health an Welfare, which increases substantially when disease outbreaks occur. The cost to the farming industry is also considerable, yet currently those affected have no decision-making powers over these policies."

And Lord Rooker's message is: "These seminars are a vital way for animal keepers to contribute to the ideas surrounding the sharing of responsibility and cost for animal diseases. DEFRA is taking the seminars across the country to involve as many of those affected as possible and to make sure voices are heard.."

Being involved in deciding upon disease prevention measures is exactly what most producers want. Their greatest fear is being asked to meet the cost of measures that they have not been consulted over.

Tom Vesey sums the feeling up: "We don't mind sharing the cost, as long as we also share the responsibility. We want to be sure that we, as an industry, will have a say in the running of any schemes that we are being asked to fund."

DEFRA appears to be in agreement that the responsibility for decision-making as well as funding should be shared between farmers and government. Some producers are sceptical; some are also disappointed that the workshops are being run by 'independent facilitators' and not by DEFRA itself, which they fear will dilute the effectiveness of the exercise. But Tom Vesey urges producers to overcome any feelings of scepticism they may have, and attend one of these workshops if they possibly can. "We should all take this opportunity to find out as much as we can about what is being proposed and to make our views known," he says. "We want DEFRA to listen to us, and that can't happen if we don't go along and speak out."

Remaining dates and locations are as follows:

Mon, 25th February, in Tunbridge Wells

Wed, 27th February, in Stoke on Trent

Fri, 29th February, in Duxford, Cambs

Mon, 3rd March, in Nottingham

Thurs, 6th March, in York

Wed, 12th March, in Lancaster

Thurs, 13th March, in Carlisle

Fri, 14th March, in Newcastle

Refreshments and lunch are provided. Places must be booked in advance, either by emailing rcsworkshops@defra.gsi.gov.uk or calling 0207 238 5758.