Government's Interim Response to BSE Inquiry Report - BVA Reaction

14 February 2001

While the Minister has rightly emphasised the need to look forward' said Mr Tyson 'the Government's response appears somewhat heavy on communication but light on future action. The main thrust seems to be to tell everybody everything, reform the culture of the Civil Service and set up more inter-departmental structures and additional scientific advisory committees. All very supportable' Mr Tyson continued, 'but horizontal in impact. 'There is no mention of watching for disease, no mention of action quickly and decisively and last, but by no means least, no mention of resources. If we are to try to avoid future occurrences along the lines of the BSE crisis then on-farm inspection by veterinarians is the starting point. As Lord Phillips so rightly said continuous surveillance for disease and continuous enforcement of controls are prerequisites.' 'We have endeavoured, Mr Tyson concluded 'to make MPs aware that the situation now is far worse than when BSE first appeared. Vets now visit fewer farms, and those they do they visit less frequently. There is no doubt that the potential exists for disease outbreaks to spread more quickly. And, at the very time we are calling for an improvement in veterinary surveillance the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) has announced the closure of one of their Veterinary Investigation Centres. And this on cost grounds not scientific logic.'

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