Farming Today this morning ran a series of interviews with people who lived through the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak to mark its 25 year anniversary. Even after a quarter of a century, it was striking to hear the emotion those reminiscences still evokes.
As we remember 2001 It’s instructive to look back at the June 2025 National Audit Office report entitled “Resilience to Animal Diseases” (opens as a PDF) which examines whether Defra, working with key public and private bodies, is taking effective action to ensure England is resilient to animal diseases. The Key Facts section provides a sobering assessment of the level of risk and extent of damage another disease outbreak could cause. Equally, their Key Findings outline some of the weaknesses and shortcomings of the current system and levels of preparedness. It’s well worth another reading and a review of how much progress has been made on the NAO’S 12 and 18 month recommendations.
Tomorrow at 6:30am, Farming Today’s Charlotte Smith will be talking to Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Midlemiss about how well prepared the country would be to tackle another foot and mouth outbreak. We’ll be listening with interest.
We are the UKs largest trade body for the meat industry and provide expert advice on trade issues, bespoke technical advice and access to government policy makers
We are proud to count businesses of all sizes and specialties as members. They range from small, family run abattoirs serving local customers to the largest meat processing companies responsible for supplying some of our best-loved brands to shops and supermarkets.
We are further strengthened by our associate Members who work in industries that support and supply our meat processing companies.
We are the voice of the British meat industry.
17 Clerkenwell Green
Clerkenwell, EC1 0DP
Tel: 020 7329 0776