Consultations
FSA: The Food Standards Agency has launched a consultation (closes on 10 December 2010) on proposed changes to the Official Feed and Food Controls Regulations. The FSA Board decided at its meeting in July 2010 to consult on suggestions to amend the legislation that currently allows slaughterhouses & cutting plant operators to continue to operate while an appeal against the refusal or withdrawal of approval is pending.
WAG: Wales’ Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones, has announced an important step in her eradication programme to tackle Wales’ bovine TB crisis by setting out plans for a new badger control strategy.
In July 2010 the Court of Appeal ruled that an earlier order, the Tuberculosis Eradication (Wales) Order 2009, which applied to the whole of Wales was unlawful. The new draft order is specific to an Intensive Action Area, covering north Pembrokeshire and including areas of Ceredigion & Carmarthenshire. This part of Wales has one of the highest bovine TB rates in Europe. The consultation closes on 17 December 2010.
Press release ~ WAG: Bovine TB ~ Bovine TB Eradication Programme: Consultation on Badger Control in the Intensive Action Area
NICE: NICE has opened a consultation (closes on 18 October 2010) on its draft guidelines for the care of people with diabetic foot problems in hospital. These problems may significantly affect a patient's quality of life, reducing mobility that may lead to loss of employment, depression, and damage to (or loss of) limbs. Treating diabetic foot problems also has a considerable financial impact on the NHS through outpatient costs, increased bed occupancy and longer hospital stays.
Press release ~ Diabetic foot problems - inpatient management of diabetic foot problems ~ Type 2 diabetes: prevention and management of foot problems
ScotGov: New guidance to help public sector bodies meet their responsibilities under the Climate Change Act has been published. Public bodies are invited to give their views on the guidance, which encourages them to set their own emissions targets and make tackling climate change a priority.
The duties will apply to approximately 5,000 public bodies all defined as a ‘Scottish public authority’ within the meaning of Section 3(1) (a) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. The consultation will close on Friday November 26, 2010
Press release ~ Consultation on draft guidance for public bodies to assist them in complying with the duties placed upon them by the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009
CRC: The Commission for Rural Communities are now planning their final report to government on the current economic health of rural areas. This report will go to the DEFRA Minister for Rural Affairs and help inform the future work of the new Rural Communities Policy Unit. If you can contribute please email Matt Griffith by 8 November 2010. The report will be published in mid-December 2010.
NICE: Guidelines are being developed for the NHS in England & Wales to aid earlier diagnosis and promote more effective management & support specifically for women with ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer in women with around 6,800 cases being diagnosed each year in the UK.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published its draft recommendations for consultation (closes on Friday 19 November 2010). Charities, patient groups, NHS organisations and others who have registered an interest in this guideline, now have the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed recommendations to help develop them further, ahead of the final guideline being published in 2011.
Press release ~ Draft guideline on ovarian cancer ~ Ovarian Cancer Online Continuing Professional Development Tool ~ National Collaborating Centre for Cancer.
ScotGov: A consultation has been launched on a strategy which sets out, for the first time, a high-level, long-term agenda for sustainable land use across Scotland. Written responses to the consultation are invited by 17 December2010 (earlier responses would be welcome).
The Scottish Government launched its integrated approach 2 years ago with the Rural Land Use Study and is committed to this 'vital dialogue' with everyone interested in urban and rural land.
