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Background on the regulation of specified animal pathogens

Following the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease, which began in Surrey in August 2007, Sir Bill Callaghan led a Review of the Regulatory Framework for Handling Pathogens (PDF) [42]. The Government accepted a number of recommendations to improve the regulatory system for work involving specified animal pathogens and in particular that:

  • HSE should become the single regulatory body for both human and animal pathogens with responsibility for inspection and enforcement functions; and
  • Defra should work with HSE and others to bring the legislation encompassing genetically modified organisms, human pathogens and animal pathogens within a single regulatory framework.

Since 2008, HSE has taken responsibility for inspection and enforcement of the work with specified animal pathogens, while Defra and the Scottish and Welsh Governments (Devolved Governments) continued to licence premises for work with animal pathogens under Specified Animal Pathogens Orders (England[43], Scotland[44] and Wales[45]).

Significant work has been undertaken to deliver a single regulatory framework but it has not been possible due to the legal complexities of the different primary legislation (Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Animal Health Act 1981) and issues around devolved powers. However, HSE, Defra and the Devolved Governments developed alternative (non-legislative) approaches to regulate this area and revised arrangements[46] will be implemented from 1 April 2015.

Link URLs in this page

  1. Biosafetyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/index.htm
  2. Safety noticeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/notices/index.htm
  3. Overview - The regulation of specified animal pathogenshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/sapo.htm
  4. Background on the regulation of specified animal pathogenshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/background.htm
  5. SAPO Application processhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/app-process.htm
  6. How do I make my application?https://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/how-do-i.htm
  7. Notifying accidents and dangerous occurrencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/notify.htm
  8. Guidance on Appeals for Notices issued under SAPOhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/guidance-appeals-sapo.htm
  9. Overview - Infections at workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/infection.htm
  10. Preventing infections at workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/about.htm
  11. HSE and infectionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/hseandinfection.htm
  12. Overview - Are you at risk?https://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/microorganisms.htm
  13. Laboratory workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/laboratories.htm
  14. Healthcarehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/healthcare.htm
  15. Overview - Specific infectionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/diseases/index.htm
  16. Overview - Influenzahttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/diseases/influenza.htm
  17. Avian influenzahttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/diseases/avianflu.htm
  18. Pandemic influenzahttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/diseases/pandemic.htm
  19. Workplace guidancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/diseases/pandflu.htm
  20. Anthraxhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/diseases/anthrax.htm
  21. Zoonoseshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/diseases/zoonoses.htm
  22. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)https://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/diseases/bovine.htm
  23. Handling the deceased with suspected or confirmed COVIDhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/handling-the-deceased.htm
  24. What the Law says about Biosafetyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/law.htm
  25. Biosafety Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/information.htm
  26. Useful linkshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/links.htm
  27. Blood-borne viruseshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/blood-borne-viruses/index.htm
  28. Overview - GMOhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/gmo/index.htm
  29. What are GMOs?https://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/gmo/whatare.htm
  30. Who is responsible for GMO (CU) Regulations?https://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/gmo/whos-responsible.htm
  31. GMOs and the lawhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/gmo/law.htm
  32. GMO Notificationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/gmo/notifications/index.htm
  33. What do I notify?https://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/gmo/notifications/what.htm
  34. How do I notify?https://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/gmo/notifications/process.htm
  35. Feeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/gmo/notifications/fees.htm
  36. Appealshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/gmo/notifications/appeals.htm
  37. Confidentiality and disclosure of notified datahttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/gmo/notifications/confid.htm
  38. Description of the Public Registerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/gmo/notifications/publicregister.htm
  39. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/gmo/information.htm
  40. The SACGM Compendium of Guidancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/gmo/acgm/acgmcomp/index.htm
  41. Risk assessment guidancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/gmo/acgm/index.htm
  42. Sir Bill Callaghan led a Review of the Regulatory Framework for Handling Pathogenshttp://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130402151656/http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/atoz/fmd/documents/callaghan-reviewreport071213.pdf
  43. Englandhttp://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/944/contents/made
  44. Scotlandhttp://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2009/45/contents/made
  45. Waleshttp://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2008/1270/contents/made
  46. revised arrangementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/sapo.htm
  47. CD230 - Consultation on the Legislative Reform Order to amend the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act (1974) https://consultations.hse.gov.uk/
  48. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs
  49. Department of Health https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health
  50. Food Standards Agency http://www.food.gov.uk/

Glossary of abbreviations/acronyms on this page

GMO
Genetically modified organisms

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Updated 2024-07-30