Fears of an effective ban on UK calf exports are
mounting, with EU vets due to meet in Brussels this afternoon
(Wednesday) to consider their response to the fact British calves
turned up in Holland with TB.
The
Dutch trade and farming industry has been furious at the
breakdown in bio-security, and last week demanded an export
ban.
The EU
Commission views the incident as a "one-off" and says it wants
to find a more "proportionate" response.
Additional assurances
But the draft EU decision it has tabled, seen by FWi
and due to be considered by the influential
SCOFCAH committee on Wednesday (23 July), is still pretty
onerous and could, if accepted, make calf exports impractical.
Specifically, the draft regulation says calf exports may
continue from regions that are "TB-free". Unfortunately, none of
the UK meets this requirement.
Calf exports may also continue from parishes where the average
TB incidence is less than 1%, so long as the farm of origin is
TB-free.
In some parts of the country this low incidence rate may
prevail, though in many TB areas, such as the south-west, it may be
harder to achieve.
But the real killer in the proposal is that all animals on the
holding of origin - including all youngstock and followers over six
weeks old - must have been tested within a year for TB.
According to the NFU, this would make exporting calves unviable,
as everytime a calf that was being retained on the farm reached six
weeks old, exports would have to stop until such time as it was
tested.
"Farms would have to test small numbers of calves on a regular
basis, and on top of that would have their annual test," said a
spokesman.
Designated holding
According to the draft, calves being exported must go direct to
a designated holding in the importing country, from where they must
either go direct to slaughter, or be tested for bovine TB if going
on to another fattening unit.
A UK government source in Brussels said this condition could be
challenged by some member state vets, who may see it as too trade
restrictive.
The SCOFCAH meeting starts at 3.00pm and is expected to run into
the evening.