1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Animal health and welfare policy is fully devolved to the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Ministers will be responsible for determining the policy response to any animal disease emergency situation. The lead role in communications will be taken by the Scottish Government ( SG) working in close partnership with operational partners and disease control stakeholders. Given that disease knows no boundaries and that Great Britain ( GB) is a single epidemiological unit, a coordinated disease control approach will be taken across GB. Food Standards Agency ( FSA) would be responsible for leading on matters concerning food safety and other interests of consumers in relation to food, and would ensure close liaison with SG and other parties involved in a disease outbreak where there was implications for food safety.
1.2 This document was originally drafted with an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease ( FMD) in mind, however experience of events when avian influenza H5N1 virus was identified in a dead swan in Fife, along with experiences from other disease situations, suggested a need to further widen its scope. As a result the Strategy was reviewed by independent consultants to ensure it is broadly applicable to exotic animal disease emergencies in general and that communications requirements are met on every level. The Strategy was subsequently revised to take account of these recommendations and those made in the Foot and Mouth Disease Review (Scotland) 2007.
1.3 Every disease outbreak will present some variation in scenario and response, meaning that a 'one size fits all' approach to communications is unsuitable. However, by setting out a standard set of procedures in a communications strategy it will ensure all eventualities can be covered, every organisation and agency is aware of their roles and responsibilities, gaps in communication are minimised and that communications are kept clear and consistent.
1.4 This Communications Strategy sets out the strategic objectives in the national level strategic management of all communications aspects of a disease control response. It begins by setting out the emergency response structures which are activated on suspicion of disease and goes on to detail the actions required throughout the various phases of disease response. This includes a description of the vital communications activities undertaken at the local level. The forward planning to ensure communications can be delivered with speed and certainty, the infrastructure that will be used to disseminate information as widely as possible and the strategy for engaging with the media to shape the emerging story are all also considered.
SG Exotic Animal Disease Contingency Framework Plan
1.5 SG has in place comprehensive contingency planning arrangements for responding to exotic animal disease incursion. This Communications Strategy is designed as an overarching strategy to dovetail and be read in conjunction with SG contingency planning arrangements.