Action for farm health planning

The Government today unveiled a draft Action Plan to promote farm health planning and high standards of disease prevention and control, in partnership with stakeholders.

The Action Plan "Positive Animal Health" will take forward a new initiative for positive animal health, highlighted in the Outline Animal Health and Welfare Strategy, which is also being unveiled today (July 15).

Animal Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said there were five overall aims of the Action Plan

* Promote the principles of farm health planning throughout the

livestock sector

* Encourage a culture of good practice in disease prevention and

control

* Encourage early disease recognition and reporting

* Bring together stakeholders to pursue a common goal and share

information and experience

* Increase overall awareness of the countryside users to the need

for observing simple rules to prevent disease outbreaks

The draft Action Plan also sets out how Defra, working closely with the Welsh Assembly Government and stakeholders, will take forward some of the recommendations made in the FMD Inquiries. The Action Plan covers the development of advice and tools that farmers need to improve disease prevention and control, and emphasises the need for a partnership approach in order to make a positive impact. It also looks at how colleges, universities and training colleges can provide courses for livestock keepers, the role of farm assurance schemes to take account of biosecurity as well as exploring effective methods of communication with the livestock sector.

Mr Bradshaw added:

"Farm health planning is a proactive approach to improved animal disease prevention and control and can also very importantly bring real economic benefits for farmers.

"The Action Plan will set out a way forward to encourage the take up of farm health planning, and will help provide the advice and help that farmers and stockmen need to get started. It will also help those already taking a proactive approach to disease prevention and control by providing confirmation of what is good and best practice.

"I must emphasise that in taking forward this Action Plan, we want to work in partnership with farmers, vets, colleges and many others to improve disease prevention and control standards. A partnership approach is crucial to the success of the Action Plan and to the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy." he said.