UK: "NOT NOW" FOR G8 BTEX FOOD DEFENSE EXERCISE

UNCLAS LONDON 006113 SIPDIS SIPDIS PLEASE PASS OES/IHA FOR ABRAM PALEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER TBIO PINS EAGR EUN UK SUBJECT: UK: "NOT NOW" FOR G8 BTEX FOOD DEFENSE EXERCISE REF: STATE 112285 ¶1. According to Post's contacts at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, HMG's Food Standards Agency (FSA) feels it is too early for HMG to effectively participate in the G8 BTEX exercise outlined in Reftel. The FSA currently plans on holding its own exercise this autumn and will not be able to commit to participating in an international exercise until after the domestic exercise's completion. ¶2. While the FSA was unable to commit to a workshop now it remains a possibility it would be able to commit after its exercise this autumn. The FSA also encouraged the inclusion of industry representatives in any future G8 BTEX exercise. While awaiting the results of its domestic exercise, the FSA seeks to establish a channel to exchange information on the possible responses to a bioterrorist attack on the food supply with the appropriate USG official. Lynne Ridler-Wall of the FSA is the appropriate POC in the FSA for this issue. Her email address is lynne.ridler-wall@foodstandards.gov.uk Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm Johnson