The passage of Government legislation last week aimed at establishing a levy to pay for future outbreak management prompted an angry response from many readers.

But AHIC president, Dr Barry Smyth, says the Horse Disease Response Levy Bills are an step to enable the horse industry to become a party to the Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement (EADRA).

"Through EADRA, the industry is guaranteed the support and financial assistance of government in sharing the burden of fighting future emergency disease outbreaks," Dr Smyth said.

"Successful eradication of emergency diseases also eliminates ongoing disease management costs, providing further incentive for the industry to become a party to EADRA."

The levy is to be set at zero, which means that no levy will be payable until after an emergency disease response is over.

The agreement specifies that industry will be consulted up front about the amount of any levy.