This statement has just come out from a Defra update. Read down and there are no links. If Government are thinking of the future of Cefas one suspects that there are many people and organisations that would have a view on this, and that a wider consultation might provide Government with some interesting views. (Bob Earll)

Defra ‘Defra and three of its Executive Agencies – Fera, The Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) – have been working together to assess the best possible ways to deliver environmental priorities and meet government needs.

The four inspectorate functions of Fera (Bee inspectorate, the Plants Health and Seeds Inspectorate, the Plant Variety and Seeds Group and the GM Inspectorate) will join with AHVLA to form a new agency by October 2014. The new agency will be best placed to maintain and enhance our operational effectiveness, flexibility and emergency response capability whilst responding to the challenges ahead.

Further work will be carried out on the future of Cefas as more analysis is needed including on whether or not it should form part of a new agency. A decision on this will be made in October 2014.

The new agency presents a huge opportunity for Defra and its agencies to work in partnership more effectively. Defra and its wider Network (which includes the core department, executive agencies and NDPBs) are increasingly operating as ‘one business’. ‘ There are no links