Review of the Food-borne Zoonoses Research ... - ARCHIVE: Defra

Policy Objectives
The key policy objectives are as follows:
help minimise the risk of the zoonotic infections being transmitted to man;
reduce the use of medicinal products for the control of zoonotic infections and
thereby minimise any risk to the consumer from food and the environment arising
from their residues
reduce the threat to animal welfare and economic performance posed by these
diseases and any long term disadvantages of current treatments for these
diseases;
To maintain nuclei of expertise at the strategic level on a range of zoonotically
important diseases to promote food safety
To encourage projects co-funded with industry and the European Union which
meet the objectives above.
Government intervenes in animal health and welfare for four reasons where the market
on its own cannot deliver some or all of the objectives:
To protect human health
To protect and promote the welfare of animals
To protect the interests of the wider economy, environment and society
International Trade
Government will use these reasons as the starting point for any considerations as to
whether intervention should take place. It is the role of Government to balance these
interests and resolve them to the greatest advantage of all those affected.
Scientific Objectives
A number of scientific objectives are apparent which will support the policy objectives set
out above and the overall rationale. These are not intended to be comprehensive nor
mutually exclusive.
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