The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) shares the concerns raised by the National Audit Office (NAO) report highlighting significant gaps in the UK’s preparedness for managing animal disease threats.
The NAO’s findings reflect longstanding warnings from across the animal health sector: the UK’s ability to respond to emerging and endemic animal diseases is being stretched by increasing outbreak pressures, an under-resourced veterinary infrastructure, and an insufficiently strategic approach to long-term resilience.
Dawn Howard, NOAH chief executive, said: “The NAO report is a wakeup call. The threats from diseases like bluetongue, African swine fever and avian influenza are real and growing – and the costs of inaction will be measured not only in billions of pounds, but also in animal welfare, food security and environmental impact.
“We need urgent investment in disease preparedness, and a clear, science-led strategy for prevention. That must include robust support for veterinary innovation and vaccine development.”
NOAH is calling on the Government to accelerate a long-term strategy that prioritises:
- Support for livestock vaccination as a key tool to prevent and manage outbreaks, underpinned by NOAH’s Livestock Vaccination Guideline, which helps farmers and veterinary professionals work together to deliver effective immunisation plans;
- Investment in the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) to ensure it has the capacity, skills, and resources to evaluate and authorise new veterinary medicines swiftly – especially as climate change and globalisation continue to increase the risk of novel disease incursions; and
- Streamlined regulatory and border control systems that enhance biosecurity without hindering access to essential veterinary medicines and vaccines, which is why NOAH has called for a UK-EU veterinary medicines agreement.
NOAH’s Livestock Vaccination Guideline, developed in partnership with veterinary and farming stakeholders, provides practical support to increase vaccine uptake and effectiveness on UK farms. This work is essential to improving herd and flock immunity, reducing reliance on antibiotics, and increasing resilience to future disease outbreaks.
Mrs Howard added: “Preventing the next crisis starts with the tools we already have – vaccines, diagnostics, and effective medicines. But to stay ahead of emerging threats, we also need a regulatory system that enables timely access to new solutions.
“The UK must ensure that the VMD has the long-term funding and scientific capability it needs to deliver for animal health, public health and the rural economy.”
