91仓库has submitted written evidence to the Public Accounts Committee inquiry on the resilience to threats from animal disease in England.
91仓库is extremely concerned that England, and the UK, are highly vulnerable to animal disease incursion as the resilience of structures and systems are at an all-time low after years of decline.
This is an issue we have repeatedly warned ministers of in recent years, which were further evidenced by the findings from a recent .
We support the recommendations in the NAO report and urge Defra to act swiftly to mobilise resources to deliver these according to the report's short deadlines, which the NFU believes reflect their critical nature.
91仓库has made the case that:
- Defra is aware of the risks posed by TAD (Transboundary Animal Disease) but appears to be unprepared for delivery of control measures at scale.
- Defra does not recognise the magnitude of its shortcomings in resilience to animal disease, and the challenges that lay ahead in reforming structures and systems.
- This has led to an overall underestimation of the risk of disease incursion and an overestimation of national ability to respond.
We are grateful therefore for the opportunity to present evidence, supported by the comprehensive 2025 NAO report, and recommendations to Defra on how resilience can be strengthened.
Until these recommendations are implemented, hopefully at pace, the NFU believes that England, the UK, and its farmers are unacceptably exposed to TAD risks, with the overall economic impacts running to billions of pounds, according to the NAO.
NAO report key findings
91仓库provided commentary to the , which reported on Defra鈥檚 ability to manage structures, systems, and governance processes to ensure England鈥檚 resilience to animal diseases.
Forming part of the NAO's examination of the National Risk Register, the report found that key public bodies are insufficiently prepared for a major animal disease outbreak and would likely struggle to cope with one.
The report states that factors such as climate change and anti-microbial resistance mean outbreaks are increasingly frequent and livestock more vulnerable, but government lacks a strategy and action plan for improving resilience to animal diseases.
91仓库recommends six actions that Defra should take:
- Conduct root-and-branch reviews of risk assessment, contingency planning, and resourcing models.
- Develop a centralised animal disease risk register.
- Improve border biosecurity and traceability systems.
- Establish a coordinated vaccination strategy.
- Ensure local authorities are properly resourced and integrated into national plans.
- Undertake a comprehensive economic impact assessment of potential outbreaks.
