What the law says

The Animal Health Act 1981 is the key legislation from central government regarding the prevention and treatment of animal diseases such as avian flu. The act is amended by the Animal Health Act 2002 (Amendment), and various orders relating to specific diseases, such as the Avian Influenza Preventive Measures Regulations 2006.

The role of local government

Dorset County Council is responsible for enforcing the law relating to certain animal diseases (including avian flu), but the lead government agency dealing with the issue is  DEFRA (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) (opens in a new window) .

The Emergency Management and Resilience Unit has prepared an  Avian Influenza Contingency Response Plan (pdf, 109kb) (opens in a new window) to prepare for a potential outbreak of avian flu in Dorset. This document is available in pdf. format (read only) to emergency responders only and is therefore password protected. (If you are a member of a responding organisation but do not have the password, please contact the unit on the e-mail address detailed below).

The role of Defra

As the lead government agency, Defra (Department Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) provide up to date information on avian flu on their website and a hotline for reporting dead wild birds such as water fowl, gulls, waders, geese or swans. If you find dead wild birds please contact the Defra helpline on 0845 933 5577 and choose the Avian Influenza option. Lines are open between 8.30am-8pm, seven days a week.

For further advice, please consult the Avian Influenza section (opens in a new window) of the Defra website.

• Name: Dorset County Council Emergency Planning Service
  Email: epservice@dorsetcc.gov.uk
  Tel: 01305 224659
  Full details for Dorset County Council Emergency Planning Service