Written question asked by Lord Taylor of Holbeach (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Rooker (Labour) on Thursday, 3 April 2008.

Agriculture: Disease Testing

Question: asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the Diseases of Animals (Approved Disinfectants) (Fees) Order 2008 (SI 2008/652) increased the fees for testing for use with foot and mouth disease and swine vesicular disease by 98.7 per cent, but by less than 3 per cent for use with all other types of disease.

Answer: It is government policy that regulatory and approval regimes should be cost-neutral and that regulatory bodies charge appropriate fees. Prior to the revision of fees in 2005, no fees relating to the approval mechanism had been revised since 1991. It was proposed that the fees Order would be revised to start to recover the fees for testing. Since 2005, the price for each of the tests charged by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency has been revised and is based on the actual hours needed to perform the test by graded staff, together with the materials used: that is, the full economic cost. The prices reflect the complexity of the tests and difficulty of the methodologies. The Institute for Animal Health (IAH) is the only laboratory in the UK equipped to undertake efficacy testing of disinfectants against foot and mouth disease and swine vesicular disease testing. The IAH is also now required to recover the full economic cost of the testing service they provide. This has resulted in them needing to revise their fees, something they have not needed to do since 2005.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 2876; 700 c189WA
Session: 2007-08
Subjects: Fees and charges Disease control Foot and mouth disease Testing Institute for Animal Health Disinfectants Veterinary Laboratories Agency Swine vesicular disease
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk