A Health and Safety Executive report from Great Britain has identified weaknesses at Northern Ireland's Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI). The report calls for urgent, sustained and verifiable action to address governance arrangements and laboratory practices.

Stormont's Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir stated in the Assembly that he requires stronger assurance of consistent standards at AFBI. He appreciated the professionalism of AFBI staff. The AFBI board reported that it has taken steps to address the issues raised.

The inspection found deficiencies in administrative oversight, biocontainment procedures, infrastructure condition in high-containment areas, biosafety evidence for facility fitness, and organisational capability for compliance.

Testing procedures for Bluetongue virus at AFBI were deemed unsafe at the time of inspection, with environmental protection measures needed. Northern Ireland faced negligible transmission risk during an inactive period, but a triage protocol is now being finalised to limit acceptance of samples from suspected cases. Diagnostic samples will only be processed where containment facilities allow.

Protocols for bird flu testing at AFBI have been recommended to stop. Contingency plans direct samples to compliant facilities.

Muir addressed allegations of animal welfare and environmental practices at the AFBI farm in Hillsborough. Some claims were historic, others recent. All were reviewed by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) and the AFBI board. A low-severity water pollution incident in early April involved a milk spillage into Hillsborough Lake, reported by AFBI management to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. It caused minor visual impact with no effect on fish.

AFBI functions as an arms-length body of Daera. It provides science to protect animal and public health and respond to disease outbreaks. Robust oversight and mitigations ensure ongoing diagnostic services. Daera will receive quarterly reports at minimum. The AFBI board must produce an Organisational Action Plan. A formal review of AFBI was submitted to Daera in February 2025, with publication forthcoming.