Scottish wild bird highly pathogenic avian influenza response plan
This document sets out the approach that the Scottish Government and its agencies will take to respond to an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in wild birds in Scotland.
Roles and responsibilities
Roles of Government and its agencies
30. The roles and responsibilities of key government departments, agencies and organisations involved in the response to an outbreak of HPAI in wild birds in Scotland are set out in Table 1.
| Organisation |
Acronym |
Responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| Scottish Government |
SG |
Responsible for responding, co-ordinating and managing the response to outbreaks of exotic notifiable diseases in Scotland, supported by operational partners, including NatureScot, with regards to environmental and wildlife impacts. Responsible for coordinating scientific advice and data requirements for species conservation. Scottish Ministers have overall responsibility for and oversight of the outbreak response. The relevant Minister will be involved in decision making, working closely with the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO). |
| Animal and Plant Health Agency |
APHA |
Field delivery of animal health services in Scotland is currently undertaken by The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), who work on behalf of the Scottish and Welsh Governments and Defra. APHA, on behalf of Scottish Ministers, are the lead operational partner responsible for:
|
| Animal Disease Policy Group |
ADPG |
A permanent UK-wide policy forum, which during disease outbreaks provides disease control advice (e.g., the level of surveillance required in dead wild birds) and strategy recommendations to Ministers and other strategic decision makers. Drawing in particular on advice from relevant experts, it reviews and challenges strategic assumptions. ADPG also has an important role in ensuring that policies are coordinated (although they may be different) across the four UK administrations. Membership of ADPG will include representatives from the Scottish Government, Defra, Welsh Government, DAERA, and all four UK CVOs. |
| Ornithological Experts Panel |
OEP |
This group of ornithological experts, chaired by APHA, provides specific technical and scientific advice and recommendations to supporting Scottish Government and other GB administrations' policies in response to controlling and preventing outbreaks of avian influenza. |
| NatureScot |
- |
Scotland's statutory nature agency, providing advice on the conservation impacts on key species, coordination of intelligence on the scale of impact on wild birds, regulating certain activities (e.g., taking, killing of species), provision of advice to reserve managers and wider land managers. The Scientific Advisory Committee subgroup on Avian Influenza, which sits within NatureScot provides scientific advice to the NatureScot Board and guides practical policy decisions. |
| Avian Flu in Wild Birds - Scottish Task Force |
- |
A network across key public and private bodies in Scotland to ensure an efficient, effective and coordinated approach to understanding and mitigating the impact of HPAI in wild birds. Technical & Advisory. Government and NGOs. Animal and public health, wildlife policy, ornithology. Meets frequently Previous meeting updates can be found here. |
| Scottish Environment Protection Agency |
SEPA |
Scotland's principal environmental regulatory body, with a specific HPAI focus on providing expertise and advice with respect to the disposal of carcasses. |
| Public Health Scotland |
PHS |
Lead for the public health response in Scotland, responsible for determining and mitigating the risk to public health from HPAI. |
| Local Authorities |
LA |
Ensure that environmental, health and safety issues are managed during the Scottish response to the HPAI response. |
| Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals |
SSPCA |
To ensure animal welfare practices are applied in relation to sick wild birds that are reported by the general public. |
| Rescue/Rehabilitation Centres |
Rehabilitation of sick or injured wild birds and to work with Government to respond to the outbreak. |
Co-ordination groups
31. The four administrations work closely together in a well-established governance structure, with many policy, scientific, expert and advisory groups feeding into the Animal Disease Policy Group (ADPG). Policy teams and delivery agencies share information and technical advice during an outbreak such as this. There are also the weekly reports on findings of HPAI in wild birds in GB are reported online: Avian influenza in wild birds - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
32. The Animal Disease Policy Group (ADPG) provides the UK wide forum where disease control policy and strategic recommendations should be presented, reviewed, discussed, challenged and agreed. The ADPG has an important role in making sure policies are, as far as possible, consistent across the 4 administrations. Membership of the ADPG includes the 4 Chief Veterinary Officers from across the UK and other representatives from the four administrations, the UK Cabinet Office, and public health bodies who provide advice on zoonotic disease.
33. Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies also work across the 4 administrations to support decision making and responses.
UK level forums
34. At the UK level there are a number of forums considering and advising on the response to HPAI in wild birds. Those not already included in table 1 are:
- HPAI response (wild bird monitoring), led by British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). Technical discussion and agreement on managing the implications of HPAI in UK wild bird monitoring schemes, including ringing.
- Defra Group Avian Influenza in Wild Birds Working Group, as detailed in the Mitigation strategy for avian influenza in wild birds in England and Wales .
- Avian Influenza Wild Bird Recovery Advisory Group, as detailed in the Mitigation strategy for avian influenza in wild birds in England and Wales.
- Welsh Wild Bird Avian Influenza Strategic Response Group, as detailed in the Mitigation strategy for avian influenza in wild birds in England and Wales.
- Northern Ireland Seabird Conservation Strategy Steering Group, led by DAERA. Technical & Advisory. Government and NGOs developing strategy. Review and report on the current status of seabird populations and identify and assess their sensitivity to threats and pressures, informing management recommendations to maintain and improve conservation status.
- South Atlantic UKOTs HPAI working group. Technical & Advisory. Government and NGOs. Animal and public health, wildlife policy, ornithology.
Contact
Email: marine_species@gov.scot
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