Notes of the ‘UK Equine Disease Coalition’ meeting
Tuesday 18th November 2014
Room 632, Linen Hall, 162 Regent Street, London W1B 4JN
Attendance:
Paul Jepson (BEVA)
Ben Mayes (BEVA)
Keith Meldrum (World Horse Welfare)
Roly Owers (World Horse Welfare)
Balazs Toth (AHPA)
Andrew Voas (Scottish Government)
James Wood (Cambridge University)
Vicki Farr (for item 10)
Apologies:
Richard Hopley (Defra), Richard Newton (AHT), Josh Slater (RVC), James Yeates (RSPCA)
1. RO welcomed everyone noting apologies – RH had had to pull-out last minute because of the ongoing avian influenza outbreak in Yorkshire.
2. Notes on the previous meeting – Fri 18 Jul – were agreed as an accurate record.
3. Matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
a. Equine Dealers Scheme. RO confirmed that he had raised the idea of an Equine Dealers
Scheme with the Equine Sector Council (ESC) Steering Group, who felt it was a good idea.
BM said that no further progress had been made; he still thinks it is a good idea and an
important initiative but he understands that BETA are not too keen; BM to follow-up with
BETA
b. FEEVA Working Group on disease surveillance. BM understands that RN has now joined the
working group although was unsure on what progress had been made recently; RO to
follow-up with RN.
c. Defra’s Slaughter/Compensation Review. KM said that this was continuing to make slow
progress but that it was a huge and difficult task and would certainly continue post General
Election.
d. EU Draft Animal Health Regulation. KM said this was making good progress and he felt that
the implications for the equine sector were now understood. The Defra lead is Pamela
Thompson who is doing a very good job and is communicating well. . KM said that it was still
unclear as to when and how the listing of diseases would take place but also noted that the
current Italian Presidency are keen on making progress with the draft regulation through the
Council and European Parliament. Overall he felt that there was nothing disturbing about
the proposed regulation, with the exception of his continued concern with regards to an
increase in Commission powers.
e. Proposed disease control protocols for equine charities. No update received from JY.
f. Tripartite Agreement. RO noted that the agreement was now fully up and running. BM said
that the revised agreement was causing teething problems – mainly issues transporters were
having with the French vets’ definitions of premises – agreed that such challenges were
inevitable with any change.
g. Equine Identification. RO noted that SCoFCAH has approved the revised Equine ID (SANCO
7063) Regulation on 11 Sep. This requires a central equine database to be in operation by 1
Jul 16 – Defra have committed to work with ESC Steering Group during procurement of new
database. RO also noted the permissive issues that still needed to be pushed with Defra to
ensure relevant powers are included in the updated SI for the revised regulation.
h. AHS vaccine Pirbright visit. No update received – BT to follow-up. HBLB funded research at
Glasgow is on-going. PJ is hoping to attend the 4 Dec AHS simulation tabletop exercise as
i.
j.
well as KM – RO to notify AHPA. (post meeting note – this exercise has since been postponed
until the New Year)
VMD scoping study report on antimicrobial usage data – Liz Redmond’s report previously
circulated.
Equine manifesto – RO outlined background to the production of the document and plans
for promotion to the political parties/politicians – the manifesto is being launched in
Westminster at the APPG of the Horse meeting on 2 Dec.
4. Terms of Reference – no comments raised.
5. Animal Exotic Disease Contingency Plan. BT is presenting on this issue to the 19 Nov Biosecurity
conference at the AHT – BT to circulate PowerPoint presentation – and discussion will be c/f to
the next meeting.
6. Defra Red Tape Challenge. BT said that plans to denotify CEM/EVA had been ‘parked’ as
Ministers had been persuaded by the argument put forward by the equine industry. It is still
unclear whether the other aspects of the Red Tape Challenge, such as the proposals on welfare
legislation (e.g. Minimum Values), are being taken forward.
7. Disease update
a. Equine Infectious Anaemia. RH had previously circulated the AHPA epidemiological report
summarising their control and investigation of the EIA confirmed cases in 2012. KM has a
number of queries on the report that he will take up with RH directly. JW commented that it
would be good to see the report written up in the Veterinary Record. The draft policy paper
to allow for testing to exclude EIA, as opposed to where EIA is suspected, to be carried out
without official notification is still outstanding; BT to follow-up.
b. Equine Influenza. The past couple of months had seen several cases of equine influenza
(clade 2 strain) reported, highlighting the importance of using up to date vaccines.
c. Strangles. BM reiterated the increasing trend for a strangles test to be included as part of a
vetting – however this required interpretation with serology results that came back
borderline. BM also commended the XL vets yard risk assessment
(http://editions.xlvets.co.uk/plan-prevent-protect/biosecurity/#/10/).
d. Equine herpes. Nothing to report.
e. African Horse Sickness – covered in 3h above.
f. Atypical myopathy – causing significant concern in the equine media (especially social
media). JW noted that a lot of information was being produced through the Atypical
Myopathy Network.
g. Other
i. Ebola – JW noted the possibility if/when there is a case of human Ebola in the
UK, of what the implications would be for any horses that came into contact
with the infected individual.
ii. Hendra – JW said that the equine vaccine had not been widely taken up in New
South Wales or Queensland – although the vaccine has yet to receive a full
licence.
iii. Piroplasmosis – further cases had been identified on export testing – which is
probably due to endemic transmission and/or iatrogenic transmission through
owners, farriers or vets. There have been no recent clinical cases of the disease
but there were clearly serious trade implications if the disease is endemic in the
UK. It was suggested that Paul Phipps (from APHA Weybridge) be invited to the
next meeting to discuss the implications of this disease; RO to make contact.
iv. Equine Grass Sickness. PJ queried the article in the latest World Horse Welfare
News on the research into the possible link between the Fusarium fungus and
EGS. RO confirmed that this was funded through the charity’s veterinary
undergraduate bursary scheme, where the focus is on encouraging welfare
based research projects.
v. Ragwort – Defra are hosting a summit on 20 Nov following on from the BHS
research during summer. AV noted that the Scottish Government had also
hosted a ragwort meeting recently, looking at how it can be better controlled on
grazing land.
8. Update from related groups/initiatives
a. Animal Health and Welfare Board for England (AHWBE) – a number of new non-executive
members had been appointed to the Board recently, including Claire Horton (CEO of
Battersea Dogs & Cats home).
b. Defra Sector Council – nothing to report.
c. Equine Sector Council (ESC) for Health and Welfare – next meeting on 17 Dec at Defra.
d. Defra Exotic Disease Core Group – future of this group is still unclear – BT to follow up with
RH.
e. Equine Establishments Working Group. BM/KM continuing to develop a voluntary equine
establishments’ code checklist. RO confirmed that he had raised this with the ESC Steering
Group who felt this was a very useful initiative. BM is following-up with the BHS and will
present latest progress to the 17 Dec of the ESC – with the aim of launching at the National
Equine Forum in March.
f. AHT Equine Industry Committee (EIC). Minutes of 17 Sep meeting previously circulated.
Next meeting Tue 24 Feb.
9. National Equine Health Survey. Agreed that there was value in keeping the existing 4 questions
(one on the equine health checklist, one on purchasing of horses from mainland Europe and two
on ragwort) so that any significant trends could start to be identified. It was also suggested to
include a question on Equine ID – KM to draft.
10. MSD Keep Britain’s Horses Healthy Campaigns. Vicki Farr outlined background to campaign and
its objectives. It is not a short-lived campaign but one that will last 2-5 years – and is currently
focused on vets, yards and horse owners. A key aim is to promote a discussion between vets
and horse owners to raise biosecurity awareness and vaccination rates for relevant diseases –
focusing initially on tetanus and influenza. KBHH research had focused on 34 veterinary
practices (of their total 80 practices) and had shown an EI vaccination rate of between 18-56%.
Following a general discussion as to how KBHH could work with the Coalition it was agreed that:
 BM to forward VF his PowerPoint presentation used to promote the Equine Health
Checklist
 VF to provide an action summary following on from the internal meeting at MSD w/c 24
Nov – including how to include the Equine Health Checklist in KBHH literature
 VF to feedback once outcome of current discussions with BHS on partnering with their
Livery Yard approval Scheme
11. AOB
a. PJ felt he should step down from the Coalition – to be replaced by a BEVA representative
from their Health & Medicines Committee – PJ to follow-up with Mark Bowen.
12. Date of next meeting – initially suggested for mid-February but April maybe preferable. RO to
canvas for dates.