🚨 Foot and Mouth Disease

• Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Outbreak in Germany: An urgent question was raised in the UK Parliament about the government’s response to the recent confirmation of FMD in Germany, specifically in the state of Brandenburg on January 10.

• Immediate UK Response: The UK government has acted quickly by suspending the commercial import of susceptible animals from Germany and restricting personal imports of animal products from the European Union. The UK’s risk level has been raised to medium, and the import of cattle, pigs, and sheep from Germany has been stopped to protect UK farmers.

• Current Situation in the UK: The UK remains free of FMD since 2007, and there are currently no cases in the country. The government is urging livestock farmers to remain vigilant and report any suspect cases to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) immediately.

• Vigilance and Biosecurity: FMD does not pose a risk to human health or food safety but is highly contagious among cattle, sheep, pigs, and other cloven-hoofed animals. Livestock keepers are advised to maintain rigorous biosecurity measures.

• Investment and Research: The UK government has invested £200 million in the research laboratory at Weybridge to bolster protection against animal diseases. This investment aims to enhance the UK’s ability to respond to animal disease threats.

• Support for Farmers and Mental Health: The 2001 FMD outbreak in the UK had significant economic and emotional impacts on farmers. Members of Parliament expressed concerns about supporting farmers’ mental health and ensuring comprehensive biosecurity measures.

• Cross-Party Cooperation: The government emphasized working across party lines and with the devolved administrations to tackle the issue. There is a strong consensus on the need for more investment in biosecurity facilities.

• International Collaboration: The UK government is collaborating closely with German authorities and other European countries to manage and contain the outbreak, offering support to affected European neighbors.

• Northern Ireland Concerns: There were concerns about whether Northern Ireland was being equally protected from German imports due to its different regulatory framework. The government assured that measures are in place to protect all parts of the UK, including Northern Ireland.

• Future Preparedness: The government is prepared to consider additional measures, such as extending import bans and using vaccines, should FMD enter the UK. Vigilance and preparedness are emphasized to prevent another outbreak like in 2001.

The parliamentary session on foot and mouth disease shows a high level of consensus and cooperation among members across different parties. There is no significant disagreement displayed throughout the transcript, as members primarily focused on asking for reassurances and additional information from the Minister rather than challenging his statements or positions. The Minister consistently responded with detailed explanations and assurances, emphasizing cross-party collaboration to prevent the disease from affecting the UK.

Notable points include: - The Minister’s opening statement and subsequent replies reflect a unified governmental approach to dealing with the threat of foot and mouth disease. - Members from various parties (Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrats, DUP, UUP, PC, and TUV) raised concerns and asked for specific actions and assurances, but their questions did not indicate disagreement with each other or the Minister’s approach. - There was a recurring emphasis on the need for more funding and better resources for the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), but this was phrased as a shared concern rather than a point of contention. - Even when members asked about specific measures or the handling of different regions (e.g., Northern Ireland), the responses were detailed and aimed at reassurance rather than debate.

Given these points, the session exhibits a low level of disagreement, thus warranting a rating of 1 on the disagreement scale.