1. Introduction
1.1 Exotic animal diseases are those diseases not native to Great Britain such as foot and mouth disease, classical swine fever and avian influenza. Outbreaks of exotic animal diseases can:
- have serious effects on animal health, animal welfare
- impact on human health (zoonotic)
- have food safety implications.
- cause economic losses through loss of production, production traits and costs of treatments.
1.2The economic losses can go well beyond the immediate impacts on livestock producers, affecting retailers and business further down the food distribution chain. Scotland's rural communities are very dependant on the livestock industry therefore an outbreak of exotic animal disease could have serious consequences for the sustainability of Scottish economy.
1.3 European Commission (EC) and domestic legislation is in place to help mitigate the introduction of disease. This requires the control, containment and eradication of disease should it be detected.
Purpose of the plan
1.4 The purpose of the plan is to ensure a robust response is taken to suspicion of disease and that Government structures are put in place . An important part of the plan is to ensure that people inside and outside government will know what will happen if disease was confirmed and to help plan their own responses to such a situation.