18 August 2025
The Animal Health Act 1981 requires the Secretary of State to have a disease control (slaughter) protocol for the use of the specific slaughter power in the Act, a pre-emptive or 'firebreak' cull.
This protocol sets out the powers, criteria and procedures the Secretary of State has to follow in considering pre-emptive (firebreak) culling in managing an outbreak of foot and-mouth-disease (FMD).
It was first published in 2011.
(Source: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 30 July 2025)
For more information on this subject, please see 'Foot-and-mouth disease'.