STATE VETERINARY SERVICE
Southgate St
BURY ST EDMUNDS, Suffolk, IP33 2BD
Tel: (01284) 778150
Fax: (01284) 705684
E-Mail Address: A.H.Bury-St-Edmunds@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.defra.gov.uk
Our Reference: 28/118/0057
Date: 2 July 2004
Mrs P I Gardiner
Address removed
Dear Mrs Gardiner
SHEEP & GOATS DIRECTIVE (91/68 EEC) ON FARM SURVEY 2004
I note that you have chosen not to participate in this year’s on farm survey for Brucella melitensis/contagious agalactia.
The attached note explains the reasons why we need to conduct the survey and why it is important for every sheep flock and goat herd selected for testing to be included in it.
In the light of this information I hope that you will reconsider your decision not to participate in the survey. If this is the case, please contact this office as soon as possible so that the arrangements for testing your flock/herd can be put in hand. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely
(Signed)
pp A N Christie
Divisional Veterinary Manager
Appendix 3 to AN2004/110
REASONS FOR CARRYING OUT THE SHEEP AND GOAT ON-FARM SURVEY
OFFICIALLY FREE STATUS
We are recognised by the European Commission as being free from Brucella melitensis. This means that every sheep flock and goat herd in the country is recognised as “officially free” of the disease (the highest status defined by the EU), and enables us to demand that any animals imported from the EU are of the same high status. If the country were not recognised as free, or if we lost that status, then we would not be able to prevent the importation of animals of lower health status. This would substantially increase our risk of importing Brucella melitensis from abroad.
If we were to lose our national disease-free status, there would be other consequences apart from the increased risk of importing disease. All exporters of sheep and goats would be obliged to undergo regular testing of their whole flocks or herds in order that they could be individually registered as brucellosis free. It would probably also create a “two tier” market with lower prices for non-accredited stock or produce.
In order to maintain our national status as Brucella free, we must either ensure that all sheep flocks and goat herds are regularly tested (as happens in EU countries which are not wholly free of the disease), or carry out an annual random test to a specified level. It would clearly be unreasonable and wasteful to impose testing on all sheep and goat keepers when a random test on a small proportion of the national flock and herd will suffice. However, if owners opt out of testing, the test is no longer random, and no longer gives the statistical or mathematical confidence of freedom required by the EU. An invalid testing programme poses the risk that our disease free status will no longer be recognised.