DEFRA Consultation on Legislation to Control Avian Flu
DEFRA has just launched a consultation on proposed legislation that it is developing in order to help prevent the spread of avian flu should it arrive in the UK.
This legislation implements a European Directive for the control of avian influenza that was adopted on 20 December 2005 during the UK's presidency of the European Union. The objective of the Directive is to minimise the risks associated with the disease by ensuring that all European countries undertake similar levels of disease control.
While the majority of the proposed "Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) Order 2006" deals with notification, slaughter and movement controls measures, the Order also contains three additional powers beyond the requirements of the Directive that DEFRA believe are essential for the control of the disease. These provisions include:
The power to close footpaths in a protection zone - but only if a veterinary risk assessment shows this is necessary to reduce the risk of spread of disease.
As required before promulgating new legislation, DEFRA has undertaken a draft Regulatory Impact Assessment. However, their assessment of the impact of closing public footpaths on the tourism industry is poor - they calculate that the cost per local tourism business will only be £250 per month.
The Tourism Alliance is, therefore engaging with DEFRA officials to ensure that a fuller consideration of the potential impacts on the tourism industry is taken into account during the development of this legislation.
A copy of the consultation documents is available on the DEFRA website through the following link.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/avianflu-orders2006/index.htm
The deadline for submissions is 28 April 2008
Read VisitBritain's Avian Flu Facts