I recently travelled to Brussels alongside Andrew Connon and our UK Union colleagues to get a "boots on the ground" perspective from the heart of Europe. Between meetings with
Animal Health Europe and the
European Commission, one thing became crystal clear: animal disease is no longer a "future" threat—it is a present and escalating crisis.
A Continent Under Pressure
While we grapple with BTV3, avian influenza, and the persistent weight of endemic diseases like bTB and sheep scab here at home, the situation across the channel is sobering. The list of diseases currently circulating in Europe is long and worrying: African Swine Fever, Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), BTV 3&8, Lumpy Skin Disease, HPAI, Newcastle Disease and Sheep/Goat Pox, to name just a few.
Most concerning are the "significant jumps" in disease locations—outbreaks appearing far from any logical source. This points to human-mediated movement and highlights just how fragile our biological borders really are. It was mentioned that there had been discussions in the Commission that ‘bioterrorism’ could be responsible for some outbreaks and a potential new threat to all. Although most outbreaks have been handled extremely effectively in Cyprus, frustrations are boiling over regarding the management of FMD, serving as a stark reminder of how quickly things can spiral if not handled with precision.
What We Are Asking
The Union is being loud and clear with the Government: Protect our borders.
At a time when trade barriers are being lowered, we are pushing for:
- Enhanced border controls and rigorous checks on legal imports.
- More resources to identify and halt illegal and personal imports.
- A properly funded APHA. Surveillance is our first line of defence, but the system is currently stretched to its breaking point.
The "SPS" Reality Check
The looming SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) agreement with Europe brings a new set of challenges. Alignment means we lose flexibility. We are already looking at tougher realities, such as longer restriction periods following bTB breakdowns and slower lifting of zones after avian influenza outbreaks.
Perhaps most frustrating was our meeting with the Commission for Animal Health where there was little sympathy for the UK’s position. When we raised concerns over bTB regulations, the message back was blunt: the UK moves animals too much. If we want less disease, they expect fewer movements—a stance that shows little understanding of how our industry actually operates.
The Medicine Gap
In a frustrating twist, veterinary medicines won't fall under the SPS agreement, except for the use of antimicrobials. This gives us the "worst of both worlds." We must comply with stricter rules for the use of antimicrobials —such as only being allowed to treat individual animals rather than groups at risk—without gaining the easier access to vaccines that full alignment might have offered.
Vaccine supply remains incredibly fragile. Production is planned years in advance with almost zero margin for error. While we are supporting efforts for electronic labelling to cut through packaging red tape, the best thing we can do as an industry is provide clear, consistent signals of demand to manufacturers.
The Bottom Line
As we continue to lobby for a "fit for purpose" surveillance system and stronger border protections, the responsibility on the farm remains vital.
Biosecurity, responsible sourcing, and proactive health planning aren't just buzzwords—they are the only tools we have to protect our livelihoods while the political and pathological landscape shifts around us.