Overview

• The NAO warns that Defra lacks a long-term strategy and would struggle to manage a major animal disease outbreak.
• Weybridge animal science laboratory is rated at “very high” risk of failure due to ageing infrastructure and limited capacity.
• Physical inspections cover just 5% of live animal imports at the border, well below the 100% target for exotic disease prevention.
• Around one in five veterinary posts at the Animal and Plant Health Agency is vacant, weakening disease surveillance and response.
• Ministers have banned personal meat and dairy imports from Europe and pledged £200 million to establish a National Biosecurity Centre.