National Farmed Animal Biosecurity Strategy (2021-2024)

The National Farmed Animal Biosecurity Strategy (2021-2024) is a national sectoral strategy of Ireland. Its main objectives are (1) creation of an online central information hub for key biosecurity information; (2) Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and all stakeholders to identify data and knowledge gaps in relation to factors constraining and promoting the adoption of good biosecurity practices. These gaps to be addressed through research, including the DAFM funded research calls; (3) develop and publish Codes of Practice for farm biosecurity and use risk assessment tools to measure how effectively they are applied; (4) DAFM to utilise new and existing legislative provisions to encourage adoption of appropriate biosecurity measures; (5) collaboration between the competent authorities in Ireland and Northern Ireland in relation to the biosecurity status of the island of Ireland is further enhanced to give full effect to its status as a single epidemiological unit for the purposes of animal health and welfare; and (6) DAFM will provide an appropriate governance structure to ensure implementation of this strategy by all stakeholders. The Strategy also provides that raising the standard of biosecurity on all Irish livestock farms will impact positively on many aspects of Irish agriculture as well as Irish society as a whole. The focus on disease prevention is a clear example of the holistic ‘One Health One Welfare’ approach the DAFM is developing across a range of policy areas. The ‘One Health One Welfare’ concept explicitly links animal health and welfare, public health and wellbeing and environmental health. The document also notes that practicing good biosecurity on farm is key to protecting and improving animal health, welfare and productivity, as well as ensuring good public health, through reduced antimicrobial and antiparasitic medicine usage, reduced transmission of zoonotic disease and improved environmental health.