Originally from: coleen
                        

NEWS RELEASE

NEW REPORT SLAMS EXECUTIVE'S PLANNED 'UNLIMITED' SLAUGHTER POWERS

Advocates for Animals is launching a new report (1) in response to plans
by
the Scottish Executive to give itself unlimited powers to slaughter
animals
in the event of an outbreak of an infectious animal disease. The Duchess
of
Hamilton (2) will hand a copy of the scientific report, The Control of
Transmissible Animal Diseases, to Mark Ruskell MSP, Vice Convenor of the
Environment and Rural Development Committee, outside the Scottish
Parliament
Building at 9.15am on Wednesday, 23 November. The Duchess will be joined
by
Lottie the Lamb (a model human-sized sheep), Carolyn Hoffe (whose five
healthy pet sheep were killed when the army and Executive officials broke
into her house during the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak) and
Juanita Wilson (who runs Mossburn Animal Sanctuary which was involved in a
successful high-profile court case to stop Executive officials killing her
healthy animals in the 2001 FMD outbreak).

The report, which analyses the scientific literature and latest
developments
on disease control methods, is released to coincide with the first meeting
of the Environment and Rural Development Committee, which will discuss the
slaughter proposals, contained in the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland)
Bill.

Advocates is strongly opposed to the provisions that would give the
Executive even wider slaughter powers than those that it already has in
the
event of an outbreak of an infectious disease. Under the existing Animal
Health Act 1981 the Executive is already empowered to slaughter animals
that
are infected with certain diseases, or have been in contact with infected
animals, or have been in any way exposed to the disease. However, under
the
new Bill, the Executive would be able to slaughter animals in any
circumstance without having to provide a justification. Animals could be
slaughtered whether or not they are infected with disease, whether or not
they have been in contact with infected animals, and whether or not they
have been exposed to the disease. The Executive would even have the
authority to slaughter animals in sanctuaries and pets such as birds, cats
and dogs. The wording is so broad that it makes it virtually impossible
for
a challenge in the Courts.

Many people feel that during the 2001 FMD outbreak, the Executive misused
its powers when it ordered the slaughter of all animals within a 3km
radius
of any infected farm (the 'contiguous cull'); this led to the unnecessary
slaughter of many healthy animals. Indeed, the 2002 Lessons Learned
Enquiry
(3) concluded: "most contiguous premises were not infected and probably
would not have become infected."

The Report shows the change in scientific thinking since 2001. It is now
widely accepted that emergency 'ring' vaccination, rather than mass
killing,
should play a leading role in tackling any future FMD outbreaks. The role
of vaccination is not limited to controlling FMD. In 2004, the UN Food &
Agriculture Organisation, the World Health Organisation and the World
Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) recommended the use of vaccination to
help control the growing Asian epidemic of Highly Pathogenic Avian
Influenza.

Advocates' Director, Ross Minett, says:
"Whilst we welcome much of what is contained in the new Bill, we believe
that the proposed unlimited slaughter power is not a proportionate,
scientific or humane response to the problem of future animal disease
outbreaks. As our report shows, instead of introducing draconian mass
slaughter powers, the Scottish Executive should be stepping up its efforts
to ensure that effective vaccination and testing regimes are in place."

The Duchess of Hamilton adds:
"I urge the Minister, Ross Finnie, to rethink the proposed new slaughter
powers and to take heed of the recommendations contained in Advocates for
Animals' report."

– ENDS –

Notes to Editors

1 The Control of Transmissible Animal Diseases is available on-line at:
www.advocatesforanimals.org/campaigns/political/awbdisease.htm

2 The Duchess of Hamilton is a Committee member of Advocates for Animals.
She previously supported Advocates' call for a public inquiry into the
Executive's handling of the 2001 FMD outbreak. Her husband, the Duke, is
Scotland's premier peer.

3 Dr Iain Anderson's Lessons Learned Inquiry was commissioned by the Prime
Minister in August 2001.

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