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State Veterinary Service

Answer

Animal Health (AH) will be an executive agency, sponsored by, and working on behalf of DEFRA. It also works on behalf of the Scottish Executive and Welsh Assembly in implementing animal health and welfare policies, including the regulation of trade in endangered species.AH will also work on behalf of the Food Standards Agency in England and Wales to protect public health by ensuring that dairy hygiene and egg production standards are met.The Hampton Review recommended the consolidation of DEFRA inspection and enforcement functions into seven thematic regulators, one being a new executive agency for Animal Health and Welfare, with the State Veterinary Service (SVS) at its core. DEFRA Ministers subsequently determined to merge the Dairy Hygiene Inspectorate, the Egg Marketing Inspectorate, and the Wildlife Licensing and Registration Service (WLRS) with the SVS to create such a body. The Dairy Hygiene Inspectorate joined the SVS in October 2006, and the Egg Marketing Inspectorate and WLRS will join on 1 April 2007.The organisation undertakes a wide range of tasks (over 600) in animal health and welfare and related areas. The joining organisations have congruent roles relating directly or indirectly to animals, animal health and welfare and public health. As the role of the organisation expands to embrace new partners, responsibilities and enforcement powers, the veterinary-focus of the current SVS brand would not adequately communicate the remit of the organisation.It is not possible to accurately estimate the cost of this work, or break it down as requested, since it is still ongoing. However, we expect that in total the work will cost less than £60,000.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

130523; 459 c94-5W

Session

2006-07

Subjects

State Veterinary Service

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk