The British Veterinary Association and BVA Scottish Branch have welcomed the Scottish Government’s announcement that the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Richard Lochhead, has agreed to make Porcine Epidemic Disease (PED) a notifiable disease in Scotland.

Following a public consultation, which BVA worked with BVA Scottish Branch to respond to on behalf of members, Mr Lochhead signed the Specified Diseases (Notification) Amendment (Scotland) Order 2016 on 21 January.

The amendment was laid in Parliament on 25 January and will come into force on 2 March 2016.

Grace Webster, British Veterinary Association Scottish Branch President, said: “This successful outcome will support Scottish agricultural industry in taking control of this very serious disease and could well be extended to novel disease in other species. This is a fantastic example of government, vets and industry working together for the benefit of animal health and welfare and farming communities across Scotland.”