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Agriculture

Animal disease


If you suspect a notifiable disease outbreak, you must report it immediately by calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301. Failure to do so is an offence.

Notifiable diseases are animal diseases that you’re obliged to report to the Animal and Plant Health Agency, even if you only suspect one animal may be affected.

This list of notifiable diseases includes information on how to spot and report the disease.

Disease prevention and biosecurity

Following biosecurity procedures such as cleaning and disinfecting premises and vehicles can help you to prevent disease and limit the effects of an outbreak. The links below provide more advice and information on what you can do to prevent and control disease.

Animal feed

Farmers and smallholders must not feed catering or kitchen waste to livestock such as pigs and poultry, even if they are being kept as pets.

It remains illegal to feed catering waste, kitchen scraps, meat or meat products to farmed animals. This is to prevent the introduction and spread of potentially devastating notifiable animal diseases. More information at GOV.UK – supplying and using animal by-products as farm animal feed.

Fallen stock (dead farm animals) and animal by-products

Guidance for farmers on the safe and legal disposal of farm animals can be found at Animal welfare.

Advice guides

You can find information on how to spot and deal with animal diseases in our guides below.

Pets

Pet dogs, cats and ferrets can enter or return to the UK without quarantine as long as they meet certain conditions.


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