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The United Kingdom Surveillance Forum (UKSF) is the key forum for coordination and oversight of animal health surveillance activities across the Devolved Governments of the United Kingdom (UK) [England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland]. It provides a structure and direction to develop a single view of the UK鈥檚 animal health status, the evidence to assure this and our approach to the identification of new and emerging threats to animal health. The UKSF aims to facilitate better co-ordination through cross-government working, joint initiatives and campaigns, and enable greater sharing of information and best practice.

1. Objectives

1.1 The objectives of the UKSF are to:

1. Develop a UK strategic approach, including setting priorities, for animal health surveillance^{[footnote 1]} and horizon scanning for new and emerging threats to animal health in the UK and worldwide.
2. Provide a forum for discussion and agreement on recommendations and options for delivery of animal health surveillance in accordance with the UKSF鈥檚 outcomes and priorities. Whilst recognising that delivery of animal health surveillance activities is devolved.
3. Identify opportunities for collaboration and joint projects across the devolved governments of the UK that reflect a One Health approach to surveillance.
4. Assess and ensure animal health surveillance is effective and deliverable, including consideration to value for money, whilst providing assurances with regard to animal and public health.
5. Challenge collectively the current ways of working, consider the potential for future partnerships with industry, new technology and data and intelligence sources.
6. Ensure external, impartial, and independent expertise is integrated in discussions on animal health surveillance to promote innovation and constructive challenge.
7. Assess the role, capacity and capability of animal health surveillance to support trade considering the need to sustain and where possible enhance the UK鈥檚 current trading status.

2. Scope

2.1 Surveillance Activities: The UKSF will consider all aspects of surveillance and related activities to the extent that it aims to take a 鈥榖ird鈥檚 eye view鈥� of animal health surveillance throughout the UK.

2.2 Species: The UKSF will consider all kept and wild animals (including livestock, equines, pollinators, aquatic, marine and companion animals). Wild animals include native or non-native species of land or water animals (including fin fish, shellfish and marine mammals) currently free-living in the UK, whether visiting migrants or species with the potential to occur in the wild in the near future. However, UKSF members may determine priority species which may change from time to time.

2.3 Geography: The UKSF will cover surveillance activities across the whole of the UK. It will include all activities that contribute to the UK鈥檚 animal health status, as well as those that aim to detect threats from overseas (i.e. horizon scanning and international disease monitoring). The UKSF may also periodically review the surveillance activities of any Crown Dependency or Overseas Territory (in consultation with them).

2.4 Threats: The UKSF will consider surveillance threats related to both infectious and non-infectious diseases. In addition, other adverse impacts on the health of animals such as antimicrobial resistance if they impact susceptibility of a population to infection with a pathogen, parasite or other pest of interest.

3. Membership

3.1 The membership of the UKSF will consist of the chief veterinary officer (CVO) for each devolved government of the UK, their deputies (DCVO) and key surveillance and trade policy leads.

3.2 The UKSF members will be responsible for liaising with policy leads within their government who are responsible for any species or threats not within their immediate policy responsibility and for representing their views at the UKSF meetings.

3.3 Each devolved government should ensure at least one representative from their government is present at each UKSF meeting and any related sub-groups. When a UKSF member is unable to attend a UKSF meeting or related sub-group, a representative with an appropriate degree of delegated authority may attend in their place.

3.4 Only UKSF members or representatives with an appropriate degree of delegated authority to contribute to discussions and make recommendations in the absence of the main UKSF member are entitled to be present at its meetings and to be recognised for recommendation-making purposes.

3.5 A list of UKSF members will be held by the UKSF secretariat.

3.6 In addition, the UKSF extends a standing invitation to the CVOs and surveillance policy leads from the Crown Dependencies (the Bailiwick of Jersey, the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Isle of Man) to attend UKSF meetings as observers.

3.7 Depending on the subject, external speakers and experts may be invited to participate in UKSF meetings as observers. These may include delivery bodies, stakeholders and representatives from other government departments and agencies.

3.8 The membership of the UKSF will be reviewed at least annually to ensure representation remains relevant and appropriate.

4. Outcomes

4.1 The UKSF will develop and maintain:

i. A concise strategic narrative setting out the UK鈥檚 approach to monitoring and surveillance of animal health; and animal-related risks to health in wider society.

ii. Clear direction and priorities for all animal health surveillance and monitoring activities.

iii. Facilitate close working across the devolved governments of the UK with the aim of providing, where possible, a consistent and coordinated approach to animal health surveillance across the UK.

5. UKSF Policy Leads

5.1 UKSF is supported by the UKSF Policy Leads, a subgroup of UKSF (hereafter referred to as the 鈥榮ubgroup鈥�).

5.2 The subgroup co-ordinates, and where appropriate, actions activities to support cross-government working, joint initiatives and campaigns related to the strategic priorities for animal health surveillance agreed by UKSF.

5.3 The subgroup share intelligence on and assess current, and new and emerging, issues in the USKF action, risk and recommendations log.

5.4 The subgroup share ways of working and best practices to promote innovation and constructive challenge and identify opportunities to support and enhance the UK approach to animal health surveillance.

5.5 Membership of the subgroup includes policy leads from the devolved governments of the UK and other relevant surveillance policy colleagues. A list of subgroup members will be held by the UKSF secretariat.

6. Subgroup functions

6.1 The subgroup functions are to:

i. Share intelligence on and identify risks related to the UK animal health surveillance systems within the scope of UKSF.

ii. Review risks, actions and workstreams log and allocate action owners at each monthly meeting of the subgroup.

iii. Action and progress strategic priorities set at UKSF meetings.

iv. To contribute to planning of the annual UKSF meeting and meeting agenda

7. Decision making

7.1 The principles of decision making in the UKSF are:

7.1.1 The UKSF is a strategic oversight group. Whilst it will agree priorities and strategic direction it does not replace existing devolved or reserved decision-making bodies or structures.

7.1.2 Animal health surveillance is a devolved policy area under the devolution settlements of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each devolved government can design and implement animal health surveillance policies for their own nations, subject to for example adherence to World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) standards, the Windsor Framework, and any other international obligations.

7.1.3 Decisions relating to the surveillance activities in specific devolved governments areas may be discussed but not made by the UKSF. The UKSF may make recommendations that can contribute to individual devolved governments decision making process.

7.1.4 Where agreement of priorities or activities that affect the whole of the UK are required, they will be agreed by unanimous consensus of the CVOs for each devolved government and where appropriate recommendations made and escalated for discussion, and endorsement of any decisions required, at an Animal Disease Policy Group (ADPG) meeting.

7.1.5 Where actions relate to delivery or operationalising animal health surveillance will be cascaded to the relevant delivery governance forum or relevant delivery agency for further action.

7.1.6 Representative from the subgroup will, where required, report to the UK CVOs and DCVOs to raise items for awareness or comment from the UK CVOs and DCVOs outside of UKSF meetings. This includes where there are:

i. Changes in risk level

ii. New risks

iii. Changes in work priority

iv. Blockers to workstreams/actions/risks requiring CVO/DCVO steer

v. Decisions requiring CVO steer

7.2 When considering issues and making recommendations, consideration by the UKSF will be given to the following criteria:

i. Legal constraints;

ii. Trade implications (positive and negative);

iii. Sustainability of operational response (including cost);

iv. Capacity and capability of delivery agencies and industry to participate in surveillance activities and;

v. Ministerial prioritisation and delivery targets (for the UK as a whole in addition to those in each devolved government).

7.3 The UKSF policy leads subgroup is a strategic working group. Whilst it will discuss and progress activities related to animal health surveillance priorities and strategic direction it does not replace the UKSF or existing devolved or reserved decision-making bodies or structures.

8. Conduct of Meetings

8.1 The Defra Exotic Disease Control policy team provide the secretariat function for both the UKSF and UKSF Policy Leads subgroup meetings.

8.2 The UKSF Secretariat will prepare a draft agenda, having regard to previous items raised, and in consultation with the other members of the UKSF.

8.3 Agenda items may be submitted by any member of the UKSF to the UKSF Secretariat no less than ten working days before each meeting and will be accepted at the discretion of the UKSF Secretariat.

8.4 Supporting papers for agenda items must be forwarded to the UKSF Secretariat not less than five working days before the meeting.

8.5 The meeting agenda, details of open actions and risks, and supporting papers will be forwarded by the UKSF Secretariat to each UKSF member, and to observers where relevant, not less than five working days before the meeting.

8.6 The UKSF and the subgroup may invite non-members to attend its meetings, as observers, as it considers necessary and as coordinated by the UKSF Secretariat.

8.7 An action, recommendation, and risk log will be kept and maintained by the UKSF Secretariat.

8.8 Draft minutes and details of open actions will be circulated by the UKSF Secretariat to UKSF and subgroup members, and to observers where relevant, within 10 working days of the meeting.

9. Chair

9.1 The UK CVO will chair USKF meetings. Any CVO or DCVO, as nominated by the UK CVO, may deputise as chair in the event of the UK CVO unavailability.

9.2 Chairing of subgroup meetings will be shared across the devolved governments, with a policy lead from one of the four UK devolved governments chairing the meeting each month on a rotating basis.

10. Frequency of meeting

10.1 The UKSF will meet at least annually and as required. The UKSF Secretariat will schedule any additional UKSF meetings.

10.2 The subgroup will meet monthly. The secretariat will schedule any additional subgroup meetings where required.

10.3 Outside of scheduled meetings by agreement issues may be considered and recommendations agreed via correspondence.

11. Notice of Meetings

11.1 Unless otherwise agreed, notice of each meeting confirming the venue, time, and date will be agreed in advance and at a minimum at the preceding meeting, and details circulated once agreed and at a minimum with the minutes of the preceding meeting.

11.2 The UKSF and subgroup meetings will be digital by default via secure video conference, however, ad hoc in person meetings may be arranged as and when required.

12. Approval, review and variation of Terms of Reference

12.1 The UKSF terms of reference will be reviewed, updated as required and approved by UKSF members at least annually. However, updates to the terms of reference will only be published when substantive changes are required.

13. Meeting transcriptions, recording and use of artificial intelligence digital assistants

13.1 The Secretariat may record and transcribe UKSF meetings in Microsoft Teams on secured Defra servers, for the purpose of producing meeting notes only.

13.2 Meeting recordings will be retained by the secretariat for up to 30 days, at which point they will be deleted. With the exception of when an explicit decision has been made and agreed in a UKSF or subgroup meeting to retain a copy of a recording of part or all of the meeting.

13.3 The UKSF members must not use o third-party software to record or transcribe meetings, nor use artificial intelligence digital assistants, software or equivalent add-ons unless they secure agreement in writing from the Chair prior to the meeting taking place.

13.4 The UKSF members must ensure that smart devices in the proximity that respond to voice commands are disabled for the duration of discussions.

Annex A: Anonymised Membership of the UK Surveillance Forum (UKSF)

UKSF Member	Organisation
UK and England (Defra)	听
UK Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO)	UK and England (Defra)
UK Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer (DCVO)	UK and England (Defra)
UK Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer (DCVO)	UK and England (Defra)
Policy Lead(s)鈥� Exotic Disease Control and Surveillance	UK and England (Defra)
Secretariat	UK and England (Defra)
Scotland (Scottish Government)	听
Policy Director / Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO)	Scotland (Scottish Government)
Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer(s) (DCVO)	Scotland (Scottish Government)
Joint Policy Lead	Scotland (Scottish Government)
Wales (Welsh Government)	听
Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO)	Wales (Welsh Government)
Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer(s) (DCVO)	Wales (Welsh Government)
Policy Lead(s)	Wales (Welsh Government)
Northern Ireland (DAERA)	听
Policy Director / Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO)	Northern Ireland (DAERA)
Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer(s) (DCVO)	Northern Ireland (DAERA)
Policy Lead	Northern Ireland (DAERA)
Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD)	听
Head of AMR Surveillance and Evidence	Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD)

UKSF Observers - Crown Dependencies

UKSF Observer	Organisation
Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO)	Department of Environment, Food & Agriculture, Isle of Man
States Veterinary Officer	Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services (ACLMS), States of Guernsey
States Veterinary Assistant	Government of Jersey