Robert Huey is a strong believer that human health and animal health are not two different concerns. “There is only health, as everything is so integrated,” he says.
Robert, the chief veterinary officer for Northern Ireland, says his passion is food hygiene. He thinks the One Health strategy is common sense. This is an international initiative that recognises that the health of humans is connected to the health of animals and the environment.
This holistic approach is critical when it comes to Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria and other organisms that cause food poisoning, he says. “Unless you look after the human-animal interface, you're actually wasting your time”.
Strategic approach
He says it’s his responsibility to ensure people in Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) “think about the problems we're trying to solve in that strategic way rather than just picking at a little part of the problem”.
DARD is unique in the UK because it is the only veterinary service that also delivers meat hygiene controls in slaughter houses and cutting plants, according to Robert. “We're an integrated service: animal health, public health, and welfare. We deliver the lot!”
One aspect of food hygiene outside its remit is consumer issues. After the BSE crisis, responsibility for this was split off from the agriculture department and given to the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
This works well, says Robert, adding that during the more recent horsemeat crisis, he could speak on behalf of the farmer about traceability, food hygiene and controls within the slaughterhouse. At the same time, his counterpart in the FSA spoke on behalf of the consumer.
The chief veterinary officer reports to the DARD board for the delivery of services, governance and finance. “At one level I'm a chief executive, and at another level, I'm an adviser to the Agriculture and Rural Development minister on issues of animal health and welfare, and food hygiene,” explains Robert, who moved into his current role two years ago.
New department
The veterinary service is responsible for delivering a programme of work on animal health and welfare, as well as providing input into policy, but this may change in the coming months. DARD is currently combining with the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland to form the new Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). Planning for this move is a large part of Robert’s job at the moment.
His strong interest in food hygiene began early in his career when he was a lecturer in the Loughry Agriculture College in Cookstown, Co Tyrone. This interest led to a Royal College Certificate in Veterinary Public Health, followed by a diploma.
After this, the University College Dublin (UCD) veterinary graduate found himself immersed in the world of meat hygiene and became involved in veterinary politics. This ultimately led to his recent appointment as Vice-President of the Federation of Veterinarians in Europe, the umbrella organisation for European vets.
Another committee on which Robert enjoys working is safefood’s Scientific Advisory Committee, where he is the deputy chair. “This looks at issues and emerging issues, and sets the direction of travel as far as research is concerned,” says Robert. “I have learned a lot and hopefully have given a little bit of thought to the group as well.”
PANEL
Robert’s Life & Likes:
Lives: Cookstown, Co Tyrone
Hobbies: A collection of shorthorn cows, various horses, a dozen sheep, two dogs and three cats
Pets: All his animals, which include a rescue dog, Lucky, the three-legged whippet with only one functioning eye
Favourite book: Currently enjoying Stepping Stones: Interviews with Seamus Heaney, by Dennis O'Driscoll.
Favourite TV show: NCIS.
Interesting Fact: Part of the UCD hockey team that beat Queens University Belfast and Trinity College Dublin to win the Inter Universities Cup in 1979. “Nobody could believe it!”
Comments