The government has launched its joint animal and plant health agency. The new Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), which opened on 1st October, will work to stop pests, diseases, and invasive species entering the UK.

The new agency will be headed up by Chris Hadkiss. Hadkiss was the chief executive of the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, the agency from which APHA was formed.

It was announced earlier in the year that AHVLA would form a new organisation, taking on four former functions of FERA: the bee inspectorate, Plants Health and Seeds Inspectorate, the Plant Variety and Seeds Group and the GM Inspectorate.

Commenting on the merger, Environment Minister Lord de Mauley said, "Bringing together animal and plant health inspection functions in the Animal and Plant Health Agency makes very good sense. It will enable joined up working on plant and animal diseases and pests, and will increase our resilience and flexibility to respond to emergencies."

APHA continues to operate from the existing offices of the departments from which it was created. These include investigation centres, laboratories and border inspection posts at ports and airports.

Public contact telephone numbers and helplines remain the same.