Originally from: Farmtalking
                        
From: ...

Originally from the Telegraph – Foot and Brussels
(Filed: 12/09/2002)

Virtually everybody accepts by now that the way in which the Government, including what was then Maff, handled last year's outbreak of foot and mouth was appallingly incompetent. Nevertheless, it still comes as a shock to learn that, because of British shortcomings, Brussels looks set to take over responsibility for the handling of the disease, pretty much lock, stock and barrel.

Under a draft directive, The Telegraph has learnt, henceforth both policy and planning on how to deal with foot and mouth would be laid down by the European Commission. Vaccination, rather than culling, would be the principal means of dealing with any future outbreak, and Brussels would ensure that it had an adequate stock of vaccine in reserve. Decisions as to how and when the plans were implemented would also in effect be made in Brussels.

This is dramatic stuff, especially since the European Commission had previously shown little desire to extend its remit over such an obviously tricky subject. Indeed, Brussels was generally considered to have been in cahoots with Maff last year, despite the latter's glaring deficiencies.

Its hand appears to have been forced principally by the European Parliament, which is conducting an extremely critical public inquiry into the British outbreak. Other governments, too, have also intimated that, after BSE and foot and mouth, London should not be allowed to manage another agricultural disaster on its own.

As far as vaccination is concerned, we have argued before that this should be the way to go in the event of another outbreak of foot and mouth. The rest of the proposed directive, though, is not only humiliating for Britain but also disturbing. The failings of the British Government last year were indefensible – and many farmers would probably add unforgiveable, as well. But would Brussels really have been any better, either at vaccination or culling?

Handling any epidemic, animal or human, requires not only technical and administrative expertise, but also local knowledge and political sensitivity. Last year, we could at least all shout out at the Government when it made such a mess of things. But there will be no direct accountability if Brussels is in charge. With something as damaging and emotive as foot and mouth, that could prove extremely dangerous.