Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Accepted
Disease outbreaks significantly compromise APHA's routine surveillance activities and performance targets.
Recommendation
Surveillance work, or ‘eyes and ears on the ground’, is vital to help detect new and re-emerging disease threats quickly and stop their spread. The Department’s and APHA’s approach to managing disease outbreaks is through a ‘surge capacity’ resourcing model, where staff switch priority from business-as-usual activities to outbreak response. Responding to recent outbreaks has meant reduced capacity to undertake important 13 C&AG’s Report, para 3.7 14 Q 9; Letter from Defra to Committee, 18 September 2025 15 Qq 6-8 16 Qq 8, 13 10 work such as disease surveillance activities. In 2022–23, APHA missed its corporate key performance targets for visiting animal markets and inspecting animal by-products.17
Government Response Summary
APHA is undertaking risk-based surveillance activities and will have a clear plan with milestones within six months to track delivery of audit recommendations, including an Animal By-Product (ABP) Risk Matrix Review and a Private Veterinary Laboratory Project. By February 2027, APHA will review all surveillance activities to ensure a targeted, risk-based approach.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Target implementation date: May 2026 3.2 APHA’s surveillance activities are undertaken in accordance with the following definition - the systematic ongoing collection, collation, and analysis of information related to animal health and the timely dissemination of information so that action can be taken. 3.3 Current initiatives to deliver risk-based and efficient surveillance activities supported by good management information include: • An Animal By-Product (ABP) Risk Matrix Review to ensure premises visit frequency aligns with risk levels. ABP inspections follow a risk-based approach informed by this matrix. A complementary dashboard is being developed to track completed and outstanding visits and monitor non-compliance. • A Private Veterinary Laboratory Project that adds to and strengthens APHA data and intelligence about animal disease threats through data-sharing agreements with the private sector, with completion due by 31 March 2026. • Development of ‘The Data Orchestration Tool’, aligned with the Delivering Sustainable Futures Programme (APHA’s digital transformation programme) to integrate and harmonise surveillance data, reducing manual intervention and improving efficiency. 3.4 The APHA surveillance strategy combines daily global scanning of emerging animal diseases by the International Disease Monitoring Team, epidemiological support from the National Emergency Epidemiology Group, monthly UK-wide risk analysis by the Veterinary Risk Group, and participation in the Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance (HAIRS) group to evaluate zoonotic threats; Together these efforts provide early detection, evidence‑based policy advice, and coordinated risk management, while continuous improvement of scanning systems and strengthening of the national veterinary network enhance frontline support, biosecurity, and resilience against evolving global risks. 3.5 APHA will have a clear plan and milestones set out within the next six months to track delivery of audit recommendations. By February 2027, APHA will review all surveillance activities to ensure that there is a targeted, risk-based approach. Monitoring and tracking of this will be incorporated into APHA’s audit response plans.