OCT 05 - GOVERNMENT NEW DECONTAMINATION SERVICE FORMALLY OPEN FOR BUSINESS

The Government's new Decontamination Service is formally open for business, 3 October 2005.

The new Service, an Executive agency of Defra, will provide expert advice and guidance and streamline ability to decontaminate buildings and the environment after a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) incident.

Setting up the service is part of the cross-Government work to ensure the UK is prepared for a range of emergencies, developed under the CBRN Resilience Programme which is led by the Home Office.

In accordance with wider Government policy, the Service will be relocated from London to Stafford in the New Year.

For further information about the Government Decontamination Service see: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/risk/cbrn/