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DEFRA closures leave Wales with no testing lab

FARMERS WEEKLY

27 September 2011 by Sarah Trickett

A plan by DEFRA to close eight veterinary labs in a bid to cut costs has raised questions about future disease surveillance in the UK.

Caroline Spelman gave the go-ahead to close laboratory services at eight of the 14 regional centres run by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories over the next two years.

It is a move DEFRA claims could save £2.4m, with 90 scientists and laboratory staff expected to loose their jobs.

The decision will leave Wales without a single testing lab, with testing centres at Aberystwyth and Carmarthen both set to close. Prospect, the union for scientists said the situation in Wales was particularly worrying.

“Wales will be left without a single lab and we will be making strong representation to the Welsh Assembly for the retention of necessary facilities, said the union’s national secretary, Geraldine O’Connell.

British Veterinary Association’s president Carl Padgett added: “We are keen to discuss the potential impact in Wales, particularly given the difficult transport situation within the country.

“This announcement also raises questions about the provision of services and the future of Britain’s surveillance work,” he added.

The laboratories are responsible for animal specific health testing, which includes early diagnosis of diseases such as bovine TB and swine fever.

The labs affected include:

Langford, Thirsk, Truro, Aberystwyth, Carmarthen, Luddington, Preston and Winchester

Veterinary surveillance staff at these centres will in future have to send samples for testing to one of the remaining six centres: Penrith, Shrewsbury, Starcross, Bury St Edmonds, Sutton Bonnington and Newcastle upon Tyne, as well as the central network at Weybridge and Lasswade. 

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