Biosecurity Guidance To Prevent The Spread Of Animal Disease

By DEFRA - The UK government has published a paper on biosecurity guidance as part of its requirement under the Animal Health Act 2002. This report offers advice on measures to take when entering or leaving places where farm animals are kept or have been kept.

1 July 2003

3 minute read

This guidance applies to everyone who enters a farm or premises with farm animals, or enters land used for grazing or keeping farm animals. This includes:

Owners of farm animals;
those in charge of farm animals at any time, for example hauliers;
vets and others who provide animals services, including Artificial Insemination technicians, foot trimmers, sheep dippers and scanner operators;
government officials, including Local Government employees and staff working for Non Departmental Public Bodies;
any contractor or other person acting for or on behalf of those already mentioned;
others who access agricultural land, whether for business or pleasure.

It deals with the precautions to be taken when entering or leaving any premises with farm animals in the absence of an outbreak of exotic notifiable disease; after confirmation of an outbreak of exotic notifiable disease; and to premises under specific animal disease restrictions.

The guidance is prepared under the Animal Health Act 1981, Section 6A (as amended by the Animal Health Act 2002, Section 16). It is not intended to interfere with sensible public access to land and enjoyment of the countryside.

The message is simple:

disease may not always be apparent, especially in its early stages;
be clean, particularly if handling animals or moving between different premises.

*Index*		*Page*
Introduction including definitions and risk		3
Section 1.	Visits to More Than One Premises with Farm Animals where there is Direct Contact with Farm Animals	5
1.1	In the Absence of an Outbreak of an Exotic Notifiable Animal Disease
1.2	During an Outbreak of an Exotic Notifiable Animal Disease
1.3	Premises under Specific Disease Control Restrictions
Section 2.	Other Agricultural Related Visits To Premises with Farm Animals	6
2.1	In the Absence of an Outbreak of an Exotic Notifiable Animal Disease
2.2	During an Outbreak of an Exotic Notifiable Animal Disease
2.3	Premises under Specific Restrictions
Section 3.	Non-agricultural Related Visits To Premises with Farm Animals	6
3.1	In the Absence of an Outbreak of an Exotic Notifiable Animal Disease
3.2	During an Outbreak of an Exotic Notifiable Animal Disease
3.3	Premises under Specific Restrictions
Section 4.	Compulsory Biosecurity Measures Within Restricted Infected Areas	7
Annex A.	General Biosecurity Measures When In Direct Contact With Farm Animals	8
Annex B.	Additional Biosecurity Measures When Visiting Premises With Farm Animals During an Outbreak of An Exotic Notifiable Animal Disease	9
Annex C.	Measures which must be observed for Visits to Premises Under Specific Restrictions	10