CLA supports group to rid TB in cattle
Published at 13:13, Thursday, 06 November 2008
THE Country Land and Business Association (CLA) in the North East has declared its delight following the announcement of the setting up of a new bovine TB eradication group.
Following detailed discussions with Defra and the European Commission, the English Cattle Industry has agreed that a new group should be formed.
CLA believes that the group is long overdue and will take an important step to ridding animals of the disease region wide.
CLA North East director Angus Collingwood-Cam-eron said: “This would appear to be a very positive move in the fight against this dreadful disease of cattle and wildlife.
“Although it does not promise instant action, the change in language is encouraging.
“The use of the word eradication instead of control would suggest that this new group has been set up to achieve rather than to procrastinate.
“Bovine TB is devastating the dairy industry in parts of the country and costing the taxpayer a fortune every year. It cannot be ignored any longer.”
Although the make-up of the group, a joint Defra/industry one, has yet to be finalised, it has set out a number of provisional goals.
A main objective of the group is to set up a new England group to make recommendations to the Secretary of State on bovine TB and its eradication.
This body will consist of members from Defra’s Food and Farming Group, Animal Health, sections of the farming industry and the veterinary profession, and will be facilitated by Defra.
The group also plans to invite other experts in their field to contribute as it sees necessary, including other industry bodies and wider interest groups.
Reviews on the current TB strategy will be carried out and plans will be developed in the fight to reducing the occurrence of Bovine TB from cattle in England, moving towards eventual eradication.
Assessments will be made on options to help farmers in high incidence areas to maintain viable businesses when under disease restrictions.
A priority of the group will be to implement a series of measures to be submitted to the European Commission for approval of a formal eradication plan.
Vaccinations will also be considered in cases of TB in cattle and badgers, who are also susceptible to the disease.
The group will also consider any exceptional circumstances or new scientific evidence that might arise relating to the established policy on badger culling for TB control.
To carry out this work, the body will be given full access to information on Defra’s TB budget and will be able to make recommendations on its use within Defra’s funding ceilings.
It will also be able to make recommendations for additional expenditure where these can be supported by a robust business case.
Membership of the English Cattle Industry consists of CLA, NFU, NBA, TFA, RABDF, LAA and AIMS.
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk
