aUTUmn 2016 PRoTECTING RuRAL CoMMuNITIES Partnership working between businesses and regulators is essential to minimise offending and to protect against disease outbreak lest we Forget Many remember the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak of 2001, and the devastating impact it had on the uKs rural economy, with costs estimated at around7bn. While statistical information on the cost of recovery from the disease can be quantified, the traumatic events experienced by many in that year are far more difficult to enumerate. The financial hardship and emotional turmoil experienced by farmers and their families is still evident today, and those affected whose livelihoods depended upon either farming or tourism will never forget the events of that year. Local government played a vital role in enforcing the controls of FMd in 2001, and continues to have responsibility for maintaining an open and constructive relationship between regulators and those they regulate. In accordance with the principles of the Regulators Code, enforcement activities must be carried out in a way that supports the businesses they regulate to comply and grow. The financial hardship and emotional turmoil experienced by farmers and their families is still evident today With animal diseases, the Animal Health Act 1981 places a statutory obligation on local authorities to enforce the rules a function usually undertaken either by specialist environmental health officers or by Trading Standards officers, often in conjunction with other enforcement agencies. Rural businesses, particularly those that keep livestock or grow products, form a large part of the rural economy and have an important role to play in the food chain. As such, official food and feed controls are in place across Europe to ensure that public health, animal health and welfare are all protected. With competing demand and resource constraints throughout the public sector, greater focus is put on intelligence-led enforcement and collaboration with other regulatory partners including the police to ensure that intervention with business is proportionate to risk. As rural businesses are often in remote locations, collaborative partnership working between local authorities and other regulatory bodies acting as eyes and ears on the ground ensures that legitimate businesses are protected from unfair competition. It also enables swift action to be taken where rogue trading or other forms of criminality are suspected. Credit: Steph Young Images: Tashatuvango / Shutterstock Importantly, this partnership work and enhanced trust between businesses and regulators means that vigilance can be maintained in rural communities, to minimise the impact of any offending or the outbreak of any notifiable animal disease. Collectively, we can hopefully ensure that the devastation to the rural economy seen in 2001 is never repeated. For further information please contact your local Trading Standards Service