§ Mr. Keith SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has implemented to increase biosecurity. [46745]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Department has responsibility for a range of biosecurity issues. Throughout the foot and mouth outbreak, the Department has imposed strict animal health biosecurity measures, based on expert veterinary advice, to contain and eradicate the disease. Improvements in biosecurity within the livestock sector were achieved through the rules on the movement of animals and the arrangements for the cleansing and disinfection of vehicles, premises and equipment. Some of these conditions have been amended as the disease situation has improved. We will be carefully considering how animal disease control precautions should be developed in the future in the light of reports from the independent FMD inquiries.
Our approach to improved animal health biosecurity includes steps to reduce disease risks that might be linked to illegal imports of animal products, and a copy of the Government's action plan has been placed in both Libraries of the House.
We are also developing plans to encourage the wider livestock industry and those involved in rural activities to adopt improved standards of biosecurity to the general benefit of animal health in our national flocks and herds.
Biosecurity measures to protect plants from imported pests and diseases are based on legislation which implements the EC Plant Health Directive. Following risk assessments carried out by DEFRA the Plant Health Directive is currently being amended to increase the range of imported plant produce which is subject to phytosanitary certification from the country of origin. Proposals for further changes to the Directive would permit a more risk-targeted approach that has long been advocated by the UK.
DEFRA's Plant Health and Seeds Inspectors enforce plant health import controls in England and Wales in collaboration with HM Customs. They aim to inspect all commercial imports of plants from non-EC countries and a proportion, according to risk, of imported consignments of fruit, vegetables and cut flowers. Trials are under way of a computer link with Customs systems to enable more effective control and inspection of relevant consignments. Further information is available on the plant health pages of the Department's website http://defraweb/planth.ph.htm.
Biosecurity issues also include the problems caused by non-native species which may become established in this country. Some non-native species can become invasive and cause serious problems by altering native ecosystems 296W and threatening native species, and also by causing considerable economic damage, for example to forestry or agriculture. Invasive non-native species have been identified as one of the main causes of biodiversity loss worldwide. The Government are currently undertaking a fundamental review of policy on invasive non-native species, with industry and conservation bodies, considering the causes of, and problems arising from, the introduction and spread of non-native species.