CFG
31/06
Letter dated 16 November
from Foodaware to Terri Jeffs, Defra:
Dear Terri Jeffs
Consultation on monitoring of zoonoses and zoonotic agents
I am extremely sorry that we have not managed to respond to this consultation
by the deadline of 27 October, but hope that you will accept this
consumer contribution as part of the official record. The issues were
discussed at the September meeting between the CVO and representatives
of consumer organisations. We are also aware that, as the draft statutory
instrument implements the EU Zoonoses Directive, there is little opportunity
to influence the policy as such, but mainly to comment on drafting
points.
Foodaware commented on the draft EU proposals for monitoring and control
of zoonoses and our views are attached for completeness (CFG 10/01
Rev.). From that paper, you will see that we welcomed the Commission’s
proposals but had reservations about the limited range of pathogens
covered by specific action plans, and what we considered to be the
slow rate of implementation of control measures for diseases of considerable
human health concern in some species. Campylobactor and E. coli are
examples.
We support the Government’s commitment to minimise the risks
posed by diseases which affect human health and underline the importance
of this as a consumer priority. It is therefore entirely appropriate
for Defra to include a wide range of zoonoses and zoonotic agents
to enable monitoring for new and emerging diseases, and we support
this approach wholeheartedly. The inclusion of monitoring for antibiotic
resistance is also very valuable in helping to identify and contain
the spread of resistance in animals and the general population.
Finally, we appreciate that monitoring for disease and infective agents
in the UK has in the past taken place on a voluntary basis. This is
clearly unacceptable when animal diseases can have a significant effect,
a) on public health, and impose high financial costs on health services
and individual consumers as taxpayers, and b) on the social fabric
of rural communities. We are therefore strongly in favour of the introduction
of the Statutory Instrument which will provide legal force for monitoring
where necessary.
Yours sincerely
Susan Knox
Chairman
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