Ten years on from the foot and mouth crisis it has emerged that Animal Health (AHVLA) testing labs in parts of the country will be the next target of the cuts. The government is currently considering plans to cut, close and centralise animal testing laboratories that are essential in conducting post mortems and diagnostics work for farmers. image expired

A number of regional labs are set to close next year, with more to follow in Spring 2013. The cuts will see eight of Britain’s 14 animal testing labs closing, saving the government £2.4 million. Scientists’ union Prospect is lobbying the Westminster government and devolved governments about the proposed closures.

The move was lampooned late last week in satirical magazine Private Eye, while Prospect union and Trading Standards have also condemned the plans. All said the closures risked increasing the time taken to identify and deal with diseases.

Furthermore, critics have pointed out that, in addition to the loss of local knowledge resulting from the closures, staffing at the AHVLA sites which remain open will not change, meaning an exponential increase in workload for scientists at the surviving labs. An AHVLA spokesperson acknowledged this fact and admitted “Outsourcing some functions is inevitable.”

65% of animal health and welfare budget to be cut

The plans went before Defra Secretary Caroline Spelman last week. Earlier in the month AHVLA said “Pending final agreement, no changes or announcements will be made.”

The Trading Standards Institute revealed in February that, while in 2010-2011 around £8.5 million was available for animal health and welfare, by 2011-2012 this will be almost halved to £4.8 million for England and £1.2 million for Wales. Furthermore, by 2014-2015 the figure will be again slashed to £2.4 million for England and £0.6 million for Wales – an overall cut of 65 per cent.

Graham Venn, former head of the National Animal Health and Welfare Panel, commented on the effect the government’s proposals would have on the industry, “Strong relationships with farmers are vital, not only to keep potential disease under control but also to enable an effective response should we face future threats to our livestock industry.

“[Following the cuts] there will be a move from proactive enforcement to more reactive enforcement work. There will be less ability to respond quickly and effectively to disease situations and poorer monitoring of livestock traceability. All of these combined will mean there will be a higher reliance on industry self regulation.”

According to Prospect, facilities in Langford, Aberystwyth, Truro, Thirsk, Wincester, Luddington, Carmarthen and Preston will close by April 2013; the closures will cost 90 jobs. If the plans go ahead, six regional labs would remain in Penrith, Shrewsbury, Starcross, Bury St Edmonds, Sutton Bonington and Newcastle upon Tyne along with two central labs.