Animal health body merges with Fera teams
The AHVLA has merged with four teams from Fera.
As of today (October 1), the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) will change its name as it merges with four teams from the Food and Environment Agency (Fera).
The new Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is responsible for safeguarding animal and plant health. It will work to prevent pests, diseases and invasive non-native species from entering the UK.
Heading up the APHA is Chris Hadkiss, former chief executive of AHVLA. It is made up of the AHVLA and four teams from Fera - the National Bee Inspectorate, the Plants Health and Seeds Inspectorate, the Plant Variety and Seeds Group and the GM Inspectorate. Fera as an organisation will continue, but without these inspectorate functions.
According to the new organisation, merging the AHVLA and Fera teams will make it easier for animal and plant health inspectors to work together in times of disease emergency.
Environment minister Lord de Mauley commented: "Bringing together animal and plant health inspection functions in the Animal and Plant Health Agency makes very good sense. It will enable joined up working on plant and animal diseases and pests, and will increase our resilience and flexibility to respond to emergencies."
Contact telephone numbers and helplines will remain the same and the AHPA will operate from the same field offices, investigation centres, laboratories and border inspection posts.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
