The anger and incredulity that farmers will feel following the publication of the reports detailing the findings of two investigations into the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak is understandable: the blame for the 2007 outbreak lies squarely with the Institute for Animal Health and its tight-fisted sponsors at DEFRA.
While it is evident that a clash of cultures exists between IAH and Merial and the two clearly don’t get along, it is the complacency, under-funding, mis-management and a conflict of interests on DEFRA’s part that explain the cause of the outbreak.
The government was informed four years ago that the site was in a state of dilapidation, and as licensor DEFRA understood the potentially risky nature of the work being performed there. But by allowing a dispute between the IAH and Merial as to who was responsible for the site and its infrastructure to go unresolved it was deferring the cost of investment. But as regulator, it was unacceptably negligent in its responsibility to intervene and resolve this important issue.
The two reports, however, do at least clarify the matter: the site is owned by the IAH and it was the IAH that failed to ensure the contractors it commissioned adhered to basic biosecurity protocols that could have prevented the virus from being spread.
Calls for compensation therefore – especially for those farmers who lost their stock – are understandable.
Comments (1)
What we as farmers must not forget is that we are not the only people to suffer with the FMD and piss poor management at Pirbright site. Consider the various agricultural shows that have suffered and those whose main income comes from such events. The markets which have had more than a tough time. The prime producer looses stock, we in farming have huge problems of welfare and management in such an issue. Talking about compensation will only anger the general public. More so, it will isolate even further those who also suffer.
Pirbright had an excellent name for research. But research requires investment. All shades of government for the past couple of decades have continued to cut such services.
Whilst we are all devastated let us press for research to continue, but with the funding from central government that it so obviously lacked.
Let us also press for the ancillary industries which have equally been devastated by these avoidable outbreaks to be remembered.
Comment left on September 12, 2007 9:01 PM
Posted on September 12, 2007 21:01