HEALTH STANDARDS COMMITTEE

Ron Cooper. Chairman / Secretary

e-mail. chess.ron-koi@tiscali.co.uk

March 2006

Dear Section Secretary

At the 2006 BKKS AGM there seemed to be a large amount of confusion regarding the proposed Health Standards Committee (HSC) presence at Section Shows where the general public are in attendance. It appears some sections have no knowledge of the impending presence, or the need for it. I will attempt to dispel some of the confusion.

First let me emphasize that the HSC are NOT going to take over the running of your Show. Sections have successfully run their own Shows for many years and I hope they continue to do so, using their own personnel. Then why do we suddenly have to have a HSC presence I hear you saying? The simple answer is that the changing environmental issues have brought about the need for a visual presence of the HSC.

With the approaching Animal Welfare Act from DEFRA, the previous National Council had the foresight back in February 2005 to realise the need of a Health Group. Hence the HSC was formed. The BKKS provided training from a professionally recognised organisation, namely OATA. The HSC has trained for Advanced Diplomas in;

1. Water Quality and Filtration.

2. Fish Biology and Fish Health.

The BKKS hope that by having fully trained HSC Officers present at Section Shows will have some favourable influence upon DEFRA, regarding the impending veterinian cover at Shows, when the act is finally implemented. By the presence of the HSC the Society hope to prove that it not only says it cares for its own Animal Health issues, it implements them as well. Only time will tell how satisfactory the Society strategy has been.

Therefore the HSC recommends that they be present at Section Shows, unless the section does not want their presence. I have recommended that two HSC Officers will be available for any Section Show during the hours of public admission. I do implore Sections to take advantage of this, as anything that can be done for the betterment of the Society must be worth trying.

On reaching the Show Ground the HSC Officers will ‘Firstly’ make themselves known to the Show Chairman and liase with him on how he sees the HSC role at his Show. They will also liase with the senior Judge. The Show Chairman will have prior knowledge who will be the senior HSC Officer and it may be prudent if the two make contact sometime before the Show build up.

What is the cost going to be, my understanding is that The BKKS will re-reimburse the HSC travel costs. The section will provide our accommodation; our needs will be no different to those of the Judging Standards Committee (JSC).

The Water Quality Criteria and OATA Code of Conduct on Safe Levels of Ammonia are the standards the HSC have trained too and will be looking to find at your Show.

The HSC fully understand that local conditions will have to be taken into account when making any judgement.

If wet dealers are present the HSC will expect the dealers Water Quality to mirror that of exhibitor’s vats.

The HSC recommend that Bio Security measures are put in place, i.e. Alcohol based hand jell for all personnel who will have contact with fish water, sterilisation of nets, bowls and other equipment between uses, foot baths on entry to Show areas and suitable vat separations to prevent cross contamination between vats.

As I said before, the HSC will be there for your support and will work closely with the JSC. Should anyone feel the need to telephone me, then please feel free to do so. Anything however small, which can be improved upon, has to be of benefit to the Society and its overall aims.

Yours Sincerely

Ron Cooper.