Tenant Farmers Association calls for rethink on change in TB rules

The Tenant Farmers Association has written to Defra minister George Eustice calling for Defra to reverse its decision to ban partial derestriction of TB breakdown holdings.

Until the end of September, beef and dairy producers, in consultation with local animal health officials, are able to obtain a partial derestriction of their holdings for animals which test negatively for TB.

However, Defra has said the rule will be changed from 1 October because it claims there is evidence that holdings that have been partially derestricted have a disproportionate number of further TB cases.

See more: NFU slams plans to scrap TB isloation units

TFA national chairman Stephen Wyrill said the move was not based on sound science and should be overturned.

“This flexibility has meant the difference between survival and bankruptcy for many livestock farmers and Defra’s plans to remove this flexibility in the autumn is causing great anxiety, stress and concern among TFA members,” he said.

Mr Wyrill said farmers understood that to control the disease there needed to be appropriate measures for controlling disease spread through livestock.

“However, such measures must respect the need for trade to continue within an appropriate risk-based system. There is no justification for a complete ban on partial derestriction. Such a move flies in the face of the government’s wider agenda of better regulation based on a proper analysis of risk.”

The TFA is arguing that currently animal health staff determine whether or not partial derestriction is appropriate, reasonable and without significant risk so decisions can be made on a case by case basis.

“I am asking that Defra reverses its decision on a complete ban on partial derestriction and instead works with the industry to ensure that the framework within which local animal health officials assess applications for derestriction are as robust as necessary to minimise the risk of disease spread,” said Mr Wyrill.