Plant and Animal Health
The Agriculture Department of the Velocity Interoperability Network protects the health of livestock and crops across the Velocity Interoperability Network. It maintains the lists of notifiable animal diseases and plant pests, investigates every report of a suspected case, directs the response where a case is confirmed, carries out surveillance testing and inspects plants and seed brought into the Network.
The Department's veterinary and plant health service is drawn from the staff transferred by member organisations during the transition period and is organised by agricultural district, with officers based at each of the Department's rural offices. The figures below record the service at establishment.
- 38
- Veterinary officers in the Department's animal health service
- 22
- Plant health inspectors covering the five agricultural districts
- 27
- Reports of suspected disease investigated during the transition period
- 0
- Cases of notifiable disease or pest confirmed in the Network at establishment
Report a suspected notifiable disease or pest without delay
How to report a suspected disease or pest. The steps below apply to every report made to the Department. Follow them in order; the first two protect neighbouring holdings while the report is made.
Step 1: Isolate the animals or plants concerned
Separate any animal showing signs of disease from the rest of the herd or flock, or mark off the affected area of a crop or nursery. Keep people and vehicles away from the affected area except where necessary.
Step 2: Stop all movements
Do not move animals, plants, produce, feed, bedding, soil or machinery on or off the holding. Where a movement has taken place in the previous 21 days, note where it went so that the Department can trace it.
Step 3: Report to the Department without delay
Write to the Department's email address giving the holding number, the species or crop, the number of animals or the area affected, the signs observed and when they were first seen, and the name of a person who can be reached on the holding. Reports are read continuously and acknowledged on receipt.
Step 4: Await the officer's visit
A veterinary officer or plant health inspector attends within 24 hours of the report, and immediately where foot-and-mouth disease, avian influenza, swine fever or anthrax is suspected. The officer examines the animals or plants and takes samples where required.
Step 5: Follow the written restrictions
The officer confirms in writing which restrictions apply to the holding while the suspicion is investigated. The restrictions remain in force until the Department lifts them in writing, whether because the suspicion is ruled out or because the case has been resolved.
Notifiable animal diseases. The table below lists the diseases that must be reported, the species affected, how quickly a report must be made and the restrictions that apply to the holding from the moment of suspicion.
| Disease | Species affected | Report | Restriction on suspicion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foot-and-mouth disease | Cattle, sheep, pigs, goats | Immediately | All movements on and off the holding stopped |
| Avian influenza | Poultry and captive birds | Immediately | Birds housed; no movement of birds, eggs or litter |
| Swine fever | Pigs | Immediately | All pig movements stopped; feed and bedding held |
| Bluetongue | Cattle, sheep, goats | Within 24 hours | No movement of susceptible animals |
| Bovine tuberculosis | Cattle | Within 24 hours | Herd movements stopped pending testing |
| Sheep scab | Sheep | Within 24 hours | No movement of sheep until treatment confirmed |
| Anthrax | Cattle, sheep, pigs, horses | Immediately | Carcass left in place; holding closed |
Notifiable plant pests and diseases. The table below lists the pests and plant diseases that must be reported. Growers, nurseries and anyone importing plants for planting or wood packaging should be familiar with the signs of each.
| Pest or disease | Crops affected | Report | Restriction on suspicion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potato ring rot | Potato | Immediately | Seed and ware stocks held on the holding |
| Potato beetle | Potato and other solanaceous crops | Immediately | No movement of crop or soil from affected fields |
| Fire blight | Apple, pear and related species | Within 24 hours | No movement of plant material from the holding |
| Longhorn beetle | Broadleaved trees | Immediately | No movement of wood or wood packaging |
| Xylella | Olive, stone fruit and many ornamentals | Immediately | No movement of plants for planting |
| Beet leaf curl | Sugar beet and other beet crops | Within 24 hours | Affected fields recorded; no beet movement |
Common questions. The answers below reflect the arrangements in force on 6 September 2026 and will be updated as the Department's surveillance programme is put in place.
Welfare requirements for animals kept on a holding are inspected under standard FS 3 of the farming standards. Livestock numbers by district are published on the Land and Holdings page. Reports and enquiries may be sent to contact@agriculture.gov.vin.