RSPCA falls foul of advertising watchdog

The Advertising Standards Authority has rapped the RSPCA’s knuckles over claims made in an advertisement opposing badger culling.

It upheld complaints by the Farmers Union of Wales and Derbyshire farmer Hilary Seals, who challenged the advertisement’s assertion that bovine TB was transmitted mainly from cattle to cattle.

After a six month investigation, the ASA issued its ruling on Wednesday (Sep 27). “We concluded that the RSPCA had not substantiated the claim, nor shown that it was generally agreed by informed opinion,” it said.

Gareth Vaughan, FUW president, welcomed the ASA ruling and described the RSPCA’s campaign as misguided and immensely damaging to a government consultation on whether to proceed with a badger cull.

“It demonstrates the RSPCA’s inability to look at issues of animal welfare in an objective and scientific way, and their willingness to manipulate public opinion by spending £1000s in donations on campaigning.”

John Rolls, RSPCA director of animal welfare promotion, said he was surprised and dismayed by the ruling. It seemed to demonstrate a complete inability to grasp how scientific research was undertaken, reported and interpreted, he said.

“The research clearly shows that proactive badger culling actually increases TB infection in cattle in surrounding areas, and achieves only a limited reduction within the areas targeted.”