Describes how surveillance information is used by policy makers to inform decisions about how best to support policy objectives such as maintaining a healthy and sustainable food and farming industry, protection of the livelihood of producers, other value chain stakeholders and public health and to support national economic development. The specific decisions that surveillance information can assist policy makers with are:- Management of outbreaks: whether additional control measures are required to limit the spread of an emerging or exotic disease outbreak- Informing trade: whether to permit import or support export of animals or animal products. This decision should be based on evidence about the prevalence and distribution of disease and about the risk of disease transmission through the commodity being traded. The purpose being to protect the indigenous population and facilitate access to international markets- Prioritisation: how to prioritise surveillance and control measures for different health hazards. The prioritisation should be based on the level of hazard occurrence and impact on animal health and welfare, public health, trade and the wider economy; the prioritisation should use information about the relative importance of hazards- Informing control: whether existing control measures should be maintained, stopped, or changed to improve the efficiency of surveillance and risk mitigation. This may include providing reassurance about the absence of specific existing or new diseases (which could threaten animal health or welfare or public health) to confirm that risk mitigation is not required.