Avian Influenza
Philip Dunne questions the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about preparations for a possible outbreak of Avian flu in the UK.
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's recent preparations for a possible outbreak of Avian influenza in the UK. [28264]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Government already have in place an Exotic Animal Disease Generic Contingency Plan, which includes a section dealing specifically with an outbreak of Avian influenza. This would be invoked immediately if the need arose.
In addition the Government has:
Laid regulations which will enable us to implement the contingency plan in an effective manner;
Worked with our European partners to halt the importation of live wild birds on a temporary basis and impose additional restrictions on pet birds;
Banned imports of poultry meat and other products from affected areas;
Put in place surveillance arrangements on certain species of migratory wild birds;
Worked to stop bird fairs, markets and shows unless an individual risk assessment deems the risk to be low;
Announced plans for a register with Defra to enable us to have a compete database of poultry holdings;
Launched a review of avian quarantine arrangements;
Issued biosecurity advice with the aid of the poultry industry and distributed it to 3,800 vet practices in Great Britain alongside adverts in trade and specialist press.
