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Pat Gardiner · Guest

Pat's Note: Reform now seems to be moving in the right direction.

I especially like the proposed involvement of the insurance industry. They
will not be going along with any abuses that cost them money. Should help
sort out corruption within the State Veterinary Service and help modernise
outdated British ideas on animal health. It will also remove the influence
of all these hangers-on.

http://www.npa-uk.net/

Brussels on foot-and-mouth:

Farmers must take ownership of risk

By Digby Scott

There is an obligation on governments to compensate farms caught up, through
no fault of their own, in foot-and-mouth or classical swine fever
slaughtering, says Brussels in its 2007-2013 draft animal health strategy.

But it goes on to say, "On the other hand, responsibility for the health of
animals lies primarily with animal owners and collectively with the
industry."

Brussels has made it clear on many occasions that it expects farmers to
contribute to the cost of controlling outbreaks of notifiable disease.

It says a European Union harmonised scheme is on the way - but its draft
strategy gives no real clues as to what form the cost-sharing scheme will
take.

This is what it has to say on the subject:

'Existing compensation schemes are mainly focused on providing a
compensation mechanism for animal owners in the event of a disease outbreak.
Appropriate sharing of costs, benefits and responsibilities will contribute
significantly to the key objectives of the strategy. It will contribute to
preventing major financial risks for member states and the Community by
providing incentives for prevention of animal related threats. It also seeks
to strengthen Community economic and social cohesion and specifically to
reduce the gaps between levels of animal health in the various regions.
'On the one hand, governments have an important role to play in securing our
external borders against disease incursions and leading the response to
outbreaks of exotic disease. There is also an obligation on States to
compensate for private property destroyed for the public good at least to
the extent that the owner is not responsible for the outbreak. In this the
protection of public health is a key consideration.

'On the other hand, responsibility for the health of animals lies primarily
with animal owners and collectively with the industry. As a result, animal
owners and industry are better placed than others to deal with many of the
risks of animal diseases.

'There is a clear recognition that the policy needs the full participation
and commitment of all parties, including the insurance sector. Ownership of
risk is a key issue and new mechanisms must be introduced to involve major
stakeholders in decision-making on significant policy issues, in particular
for emergency measures.

'A feasibility study will still be necessary to reflect on concrete
proposals for the gradual development of an EU harmonised scheme.'

Regards
Pat Gardiner
www.go-self-sufficient.com

Pete ‹(•¿•)› · Guest

On Tue, 13 Mar 2007 09:52:40 -0000, "Pat Gardiner"
<patgardiner@btinternet.com> wrote: