Volume 16: Reference Material
7. The organisation of MAFF and DH, 1986-96
How MAFF changed
Introduction
1986-90

Introduction

7.10 Among the many organisational changes in MAFF between 1986 and 1996, three in particular affected staff dealing with BSE:

1. the establishment of the Food Safety Directorate in November 1989;
2. the integration from 1990 of the State Veterinary Service with the Animal Health Policy Group to form the Animal Health and Veterinary Group (AHVG); and
3. the demerger of the AHVG in 1994, following an internal management review. ¹

1986-90

7.11 The first set of charts illustrates the structure of MAFF between 1986, when BSE had just been identified, and 1990, by which time the Food Safety Directorate and the AHVG had been established:

• Chart A1 shows the structure of MAFF between 1986 and 1989. Reporting directly to the Permanent Secretary (Grade 1) were:
  1. three policy Commands headed by Grade 2 Deputy Secretaries;
  2. the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (ADAS), which until 1987 included the State Veterinary Service (SVS) - see paragraph 7.6(i) above. ADAS was headed by a Grade 2 Director-General, who was also Chief Scientific Adviser to MAFF and to whom the Ministry's Regional Organisation reported;
  3. the Legal Department headed at Grade 2 level; and
  4. the Management Services and Information, Establishments (Personnel) and Finance Groups headed at Grade 3 level.
• Chart A2 shows the Animal Health Group (AHG) prior to its merger with the SVS in 1990/91 and the creation of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. From December 1989, the AHG reported to the Grade 2 head of the new Food Safety Directorate.
• Chart A3 shows the Emergencies, Food Quality and Pest Control Group prior to the incorporation of its food standards and safety functions into the new Food Safety Directorate in November 1989.
• Chart A4 shows how ADAS changed between 1986 and 1990, by which time the SVS had become a separate organisation and its headquarters staff had merged with the AHG to form the Animal Health and Veterinary Group.
• Chart A5: the Chief Scientists' Groups.
• Chart A6: the organisation of the State Veterinary Service (SVS) prior to the merger of its headquarters staff with the Animal Health Group in November 1990.
• Chart A7: the Meat Hygiene Veterinary Section.
• Chart A8: the Central Veterinary Laboratory.

Chart A1: MAFF Structure, 1986 to October 1989

Chart A2: Animal Health Group, 1986 to October 1990

Chart A3: Emergencies, Food Quality & Pest Control, 1986 to October 1989

Chart A4: ADAS, 1986-89

Chart A5: Chief Scientists' Groups, including Food Science Group, January 1988 to October 1989

Chart A6: State Veterinary Service (SVS), 1986 to November 1990

Chart A7: Meat Hygiene (Veterinary Section) 1986 to March 1996

Chart A8: Central Veterinary Laboratory, 1986 to April 1990 (became a MAFF Executive Agency in April 1990)