Consultation on the African Horse Sickness Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
Consultation on the African Horse Sickness Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
The Department is carrying out a consultation on the African Horse Sickness Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.
The threat of an equine exotic disease here has until now been a low priority issue compared to that of other exotic diseases. There have been few equine exotic disease outbreaks occurring within Northern Ireland and the veterinary advice is that there is a low risk of African Horse Sickness virus entering the country. However, the outbreak of midge-borne bluetongue disease in farm animals in recent years in GB has demonstrated the potential for insect vector-borne diseases to have unexpected and significant detrimental consequences for the sector and the rural economy. Although African Horse Sickness is the most prominent of the vector-borne diseases to affect horses there is no evidence to suggest that there is a significant threat increase on the horizon. However, we place considerable importance on having legislation which is fit for purpose to control an outbreak should one occur.
The new legislation will provide clarity as to the actions that will be taken in the event of a disease outbreak.
It is important to note that our policy is not changing, just how the disease control requirements are presented in a single domestic regulation. It will provide for clearer and more effective disease control that should minimise the number and size of disease outbreaks. It should also minimise disruption to the equine sector and related industries as much as possible, thus benefiting those industries, the NI government and its delivery partners, and the wider economy in the event of a disease outbreak.
We welcome your views on the proposed legislation.
The consultation documents are available to download by following the links below or by contacting:
Barbara Compston
Animal Disease Control & Trade Policy
Room 714, Dundonald House
Upper Newtownards Road
Belfast
BT4 3SB
028 90520975
The deadline for comments is 18 May 2010.
