ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE
Minutes of Stakeholders’ Meeting
Tuesday, August 26 at 10.30 am
Present
Brian Pack
Robin Anderson
George Milne
Alistair Dodds
Mike Flynn
Libby Anderson
Bob Carruth
Tom Young
John Sharratt
Kim-Marie Haywood
Alistair Donaldson
Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers Scotland
Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers Scotland
National Sheep Association
Road Haulage Association
Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
NFU Scotland
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
Quality Meat Scotland
Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers
SEERAD
Ian Anderson (Chair)
Charles Milne
Neil Ritchie
Andy Paterson
Mike Lamont
Anna Murray
Joanna McDonald
Alex Trifkovic
1.
Apologies were received from Keith Redpath, David Whiteford, Linda Rosborough,
Aileen McFadzean, and John Bell
Introduction
2.
Ian Anderson welcomed the group to this special stakeholder meeting to discuss the
recently published Outline Animal Health & Welfare Strategy, which is out to consultation
until 31 October. He added that a general stakeholder meeting will be held at the end of
September, and that SEERAD will be canvassing for dates for that shortly.
Reactions to Outline Animal Health & Welfare Strategy
3.
Neil Ritchie explained that a lot of work remains to be done on the Strategy, before it
can be finalised. The aim is to build consensus and make it a useful strategic document that
communicate best practice. Some elements of the Strategy are hard proposals- e.g.
management structures, whilst others are more loose, e.g. roles and responsibilities and the
‘new approach’ where we need stakeholder reactions before they can be firmed up. He invited
reactions especially on what to do next, and the New Initiatives, which are generally GB
Initiatives, given the GB nature of the strategy. NR outlined the concept of sectoral strategies
(probably also GB-wide), and how useful/realistic these are? IA added that there are
proposals to set up sectoral groups and a strategy steering board with Scottish representation.
He invited views and suggestions on this.
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Bob Carruth asked how dynamic the management of the strategy will be, looking at all the
different levels of management. He hoped for a strong ability to tailor things from a Scottish
perspective, and wondered how this was being taken forward? IA replied that, though there
are many detailed levels of management, they can be done without such intensive input. If it
is possible to manage Scottish interests with this group, then it will certainly be possible to
make things happen on a strategic level. Charles Milne added that there will be a degree of
flexibility in the New Initiatives. IA said that a lot of the issues are veterinary ones.
Alistair Donaldson said that, in order for people to buy into the importance of it, the Strategy
needs to be positioned in other issues such as for instance pollution prevention controls and
CAP reform. A good communication strategy is also needed, to clearly demonstrate the
benefits and good practice contained in the Strategy, and get that message out and that it is
important to integrate all communication routes. NR replied that SEERAD will make sure
that communication channels are working properly, and asked stakeholders to highlight any
problems. The minutes of future stakeholder meetings will be made available on the Animal
Health & Welfare website.
NR emphasised that communicating best practice is key, and invited ideas on what works
well, what is effective at showing the benefits and pointed out that stakeholders are an
important means of getting the message out. CM added that thought needs to be given to
delivering that, as the Government’s message is not always believed. IA said that work is
being done to develop a ‘farmers advice’ type service. It would create a single source of
available, consistent advice. Libby Anderson asked if there was any relevant legislation
forthcoming? IA alluded to the possibility of legislation on animal health and welfare, and
saw no problem about using information already in the public domain to argue a point. Brian
Pack raised the concern that the Strategy was very Defra focussed, and that Scotland needs to
retrieve ownership of parts relevant to Scotland. NR replied that this was not too much of an
issue as the GB strategy was focused on principles, but the implementation would be
decidedly Scottish. The Strategy needs to be flexible enough to allow the right approach to be
taken everywhere in Britain. There needs to be signposting to show where the Strategy links
in elsewhere, to make sure everything is joined up.
Action point 1: Future stakeholder minutes will be made available on the Executive’s
website.
George Milne said that key to the Strategy’s success is monetary benefit to the producer,
which he could not imagine happening unless Britain regains its export market and creates
new selling points for farmers. IA answered that Government is working hard on export
issues. However, there are additional returns from looking after animals, and as Mike Lamont
pointed out, public health benefits. GM replied that 99% of farmers believe they are looking
after their stock. CM said that here lies the challenge, and that industry leaders are needed to
show best practice. The Strategy exists to give people options to achieve returns, e.g. through
disease management to reduce their economic impact. AD said another important message to
get across is efficiency, as this too increases financial return. BC felt the key factor in
delivery is the veterinary profession, and asked what kind of veterinary involvement will
occur? NR replied that one of the key New Initiatives is about veterinary involvement, and
that the EFRA Select Committee Inquiry into the veterinary profession could be a good
vehicle for this. CM added that aside from EFRA, there is the LVI review, and various other
things going on to tie into the Strategy.
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Implementation Plan and Next Steps
4.
Joanna McDonald said that the Implementation Plan is due at the end of November.
Defra and Wales plan to consult on theirs, but subject to stakeholder reactions Scotland will
not, to avoid consultation fatigue. Instead we will use this group as a discussion forum. The
plan will be reviewed annually, as part of the annual cycle of reviewing and updating the
Strategy. There will be consistency across GB, as it is all based on the same broad
framework. It will include information on animal health and welfare work taking place across
SEERAD, as well as in other departments and administrations, and on industry led initiatives
e.g. animal health planning. The plan highlights and justifies the workstream and assesses
priorities, to see whether there are any gaps. The GB conferences will inform the review of
the Strategy itself, and could also feed into the review of the implementation plan. IA added
that as the Strategy is looking 10 years ahead, which will be reviewed annually.
Kim-Marie Haywood said that Scotland is perceived as not having the same problems as
England, and that positioning of this is critical to build on Scotland’s image and create new
markets. IA said that recovery had been good, but could have been better. Improving animal
health and welfare can do nothing but good. Mike Flynn worried that following best practice
costs money, and with cheap imports there needs to be a better incentive for the public to buy
British- they are not well-informed on the reasons why to. IA replied that Scotland does have
a good reputation, and marketing is positive. It is always difficult to get such messages across
to the public, but some foundation exists. The document is not about marketing, but does help
make the products sell better. CM said that over the last 20 years, both internationally and
domestically, the reputation of British product has suffered. The Strategy will rebuild this
reputation and help exports. Import wise, there is high price sensitivity. The strategy will help
there, by reducing costs through health plans and disease control.
Tom Young said that Local Government noted the planned approach on working with
stakeholders rather than going to formal consultation and asked whether the Cosla Animal
Health and Welfare Sub Group could have a bilateral discussion with SEERAD on the draft
implementation plan. IA welcomed this idea saying there is room for bilateral discussion. GM
asked whether it was possible for Scotland to move ahead quicker than other parts of Britain;
NR said it was, as the implementation plan allows Scotland to set its own priorities, but it is
important that the whole of GB can share best practice and learn from each other, and move
forward but with integrated prioritisation. ML added that on a lot of issues, Scotland is tied
into the GB approach (e.g. NSP.) IA also mentioned that some Scottish solutions are
delivered through the EU framework. CM said that the point of the plan is to take things
forward on different timescales. IA concluded that the implementation plan is based on the
vision of the strategy and its broad headings, and allows opportunity for flexibility. The plan
will expand very greatly on the ‘skeleton’ of the Strategy. Nothing is set in concrete, allowing
much scope for detail.
Action point 2: SEERAD will engage Local Government through bilateral discussions
on the implementation plan.
Animal Health and Welfare Strategy Structures
5.
Joanna McDonald said that in Scotland, we will use this group to take on board views
on the strategy and implementation plan. Consideration is being given to an annual Scottish
conference (similar to the AHWS conference held in March 2003) and an annual GB
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conference as well. There will also be a GB-wide Steering Board which will meet twice a
year. It will contain less industry representatives and be the ‘top level’ management structure.
The next level down, and broader than the Steering Board, national stakeholder groups will
be brought together as and when necessary. National sectoral groups are also being
considered to discuss sub-strategies, although it is not clear whether these would be helpful or
not. IA said there will need to be a Scottish industry representative on the steering board who
will to some extent also represent the views of this group, and invited suggestions from the
group.
Any Other Business
6.
IA reminded the group that next week (2-3 September) there would take place a
national (Scottish) FMD exercise, involving a full range of stakeholders, to test response
systems, especially the contingency plan and communications. This exercise will be an
agenda point at the next stakeholder meeting. CM added that we will be testing some entirely
new innovations, such as the Restricted Infected Area and a newly formulated disposal cell.
NR said that the plan was to issue news releases, and asked members to be aware that a
stakeholder meeting will take place when ‘disease’ is confirmed. IA said that events after the
first 24 hours and upon confirmation are key to the success of the disease response. KM
asked if other states will be aware of this exercise; IA replied that internationally, no, as these
exercises are routine in every country and a domestic issue. However, the media will be fully
briefed to ensure that nobody believes the exercise is the real thing.
Action point 3: The FMD exercise will be on the agenda of the next stakeholder meeting.
Action Points
Action point 1: Future stakeholder minutes will be made available on the Executive’s
website.
Action point 2: SEERAD will engage Local Authorities in bilateral discussions on the
implementation plan.
Action point 3: The FMD exercise will be on the agenda of the next stakeholder meeting.
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