Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of recent outbreaks of epizootic haemorrhagic disease in Europe.

Epizootic Haemorrhagic Disease (EHD) is a midge-borne emerging disease in Europe. The UK has never had an outbreak of EHD which most acutely affects deer, but ruminants and camelids are also susceptible. With the recent movement of EHD across mainland Europe, we have stepped up our surveillance and import controls. Countries with co-existing outbreaks of bluetongue and EHD cannot export live animals to the UK and additional guarantees regarding testing are required for imports of germplasm (semen, ova, embryos) from EHD affected countries.

We are working with industry stakeholders to raise awareness of EHD, encouraging increased vigilance, responsible sourcing of live animals and germplasm, and stressing the importance of early reporting.