Animal Health Visits
The Animal Health Law Regulation (EU) 2016/429, introduced a new requirement for establishments to undergo Animal Health Visits conducted by veterinary surgeons.
During these visits, the vet is required to provide advice on biosecurity and other animal health matters as relevant to the species and category of kept animals.
The vet is also required to carry out a visual assessment of the farm for the detection of, and information on, listed and emerging diseases.
It is important to note that this does not need to be the sole purpose of the visit and can be combined with other visits covering routine work, providing that all species kept at the premises are considered.
The Approach
The approach of the Animal Health Visit is non-prescriptive, however to meet the requirements of the Animal Health Law, visits to establishments must be undertaken by a veterinary surgeon, who should:
- incorporate assessments of animal health at an establishment level (all species) - this should cover visualisation of the animals and the farm environment. Examination of individual animals, sampling and laboratory testing is not required.
- include the provision of advice to the farmer, as seen fit by the veterinary surgeon, on any biosecurity concerns there may be as relevant for the type of establishment and the species and categories of kept animals on the establishment (all relevant species kept at the premises must be considered).
- consider the associated diseases and disease risks of all the animals registered with the farmer. Advice should also be given on listed and emerging diseases (including the listed diseases in Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2016/429) relevant to the kept animals and the epidemiological situation pertaining to the establishments and the country.
- complete inspections to all locations where animals are kept.
- Animal Health Visits must be recorded.
Exemptions
Households where pet animals are kept, and veterinary practices or clinics, are not defined as "establishments" and therefore are exempt from the requirement of an Animal Health Visit.
Farm Assurance Schemes
DAERA is assessing farm assurance schemes' standards against the requirement of the Animal Health Visit. When the scheme standards fulfil the legislative requirements, DAERA calls this farm assurance scheme approved.
Establishments which are part of an Approved Farm Assured Scheme already meet the requirement for an Animal Health Visit.
At present, approximately 83% commercial poultry, 87% dairy farms and 97% commercial pig farms already comply with the requirements through their membership in the Red Tractor scheme, British Lion Eggs and the Northern Ireland Poultry Health Assurance Scheme (NIPHAS).
Approved Farm Assurance Schemes
Red Tractor
Red Tractor's overarching requirement is for the Private Veterinary Practitioner (PVP) to see the livestock to determine health and welfare along with providing guidance for the written health plan which is established and implemented.
This plan must be ‘farm specific’ and cover infectious disease – this plan must be reviewed annually, and updates made based on the physical and data driven health and performance review.
British Lion Eggs
British Lions Eggs have a written veterinary health and welfare plan in place, which is reviewed on site. In order to complete the veterinary health and welfare plan the veterinarian includes in the scope of their site visit the detection of animal disease on the farm, stringent biosecurity and has a minimum frequency of one year.
British Lion Eggs Code of Practice
Northern Ireland Poultry Health Assurance Scheme
NIPHAS Members have their annual inspections carried out by authorised private veterinary practitioners (aPVP). A high level of protection against disease must always be maintained in NIPHAS approved establishments, through employment of effective biosecurity measures.
The operator must operate a microbiological control programme and must apply and adhere to a disease surveillance programme.
Northern Ireland Poultry Health Assurance Scheme (NIPHAS)
Record Keeping
When Animal Health Visit's are completed, this is recorded. Access to this information is vital for Official Veterinarians as they must certify compliance with this new requirement.
Without evidence that an establishment receives regular veterinary visits, the Official Veterinarian at the slaughterhouse may not be able to sign an Export Health Certificate (EHC) facilitating trade derived from NI animals.
Operators are required to keep the records and findings of the Animal Health Visits in paper or electronic form, according to article 102 and article 186 of The Animal Health Law Regulation (EU) 2016/429.
The Competent Authority (DAERA) should also use the infromation collected, as appropriate, to improve disease surveillance, according to article 26 and article 27 of The Animal Health Law Regulation (EU) 2016/429.
Work is ongoing to achieve this.