Dynamics of change in the aftermath of the 2001 UK foot and mouth crisis: were lessons learned?

This article investigates the UK animal health sector in the aftermath of the 2001 foot and mouth crisis. The article draws together perspectives from crisis management, policy and institutional change literatures in order to assess the extent of reforms since the epidemic. Interviews with government officials and parliamentarians and the analyses of official documentation indicate that lessons have been learned and there are successes in many areas; yet, there remains key aspects of crisis management that have yet to change, which leave the government vulnerable in the event of more wide-scale foot and mouth outbreaks. The results of the study serve to suggest that post-crisis change research should consider making more explicit links with the institutional literature on change dynamics.