§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many letters headed "Farming Cleansing & Disinfection Log/Diary" have been despatched from the Newcastle Disease Emergency Control Centre of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. [HL1828]
216WA
§ Lord Whitty480 letters were sent to farmers in the area covered by the Newcastle Disease Control Centre.
§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which Act of Parliament or European Union directive requires a log or diary of cleansing and disinfection operations following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease. [HL1829]
§ Lord WhittyThere is no specific United Kingdom legislation or EU directive that requires a cleansing and disinfection log to be kept on individual farms. However, for disease control purposes, there is an administrative requirement to keep detailed records of the C and D process on each affected premises. In addition, to obtain reimbursement from Community funds of 60 per cent of the costs of cleansing and disinfection, the relevant information must be recorded in order to satisfy EU auditors that all the necessary C and D actions have been completed satisfactorily.
§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any consideration was given or professional advice sought as to the possible effects upon their health of the receipt by farmers of the letter headed "Farming Cleansing and Disinfection Log/Diary" from the Newcastle Disease Emergency Control Centre and of their ability to provide the information requested. [HL1830]
§ Lord WhittyThis letter was prepared by staff at the Newcastle Disease Control Centre with wide experience of the farming community, who took into account the likely response from individual farmers. Farmers in the area had previously been advised that a cleansing and disinfection log would be required to be maintained and this letter sought farmer assistance in obtaining and presenting the details from existing farm records. For the majority of farmers this has not been a problem. In any cases where farmers had difficulty with this request, the letter offered on-farm DEFRA assistance in obtaining the information.