MAFF consults on new TB controls
16 February 2001
MAFF consults on new TB controls
By FWi staff
GOVERNMENT proposals to improve surveillance and testing for bovine tuberculosis are a useful addition to controls, says a Hampshire dairy vet.
On Friday (16 February) the Ministry of Agriculture published draft regulations on to clarify and strengthen controls.
Under these, laboratories which identify TB in any mammal will be required to report it to the Veterinary Laboratories Agency.
They also seek to clarify ministerial powers to impose movement restrictions on herds where a farmer refuses to have a tuberculin test carried out on time.
And a new power is proposed to impose restrictions to prevent cattle being moved between the two stages of the test, except under licence to slaughter.
Dave Coombes of Cedar Veterinary Group in Ringwood, Hampshire, said cattle movements were an important factor in spreading the disease.
“Having the power to impose restrictions between the two stages of the test is a crucial addition to TB controls,” he said.
Mr Coombes said he had never come across any farmers who refused to have their cattle tested even though his group covering 14,000 cattle.
But he agreed the extra controls would be a useful measure against the “exceedingly small” number of farmers who may be obstructive.
Mr Coombes added that notification of any mammals with TB would be a valuable aid in pinpointing outbreaks of the disease in surrounding areas.
MAFF said this proposal was aimed at cases where a private vet suspected TB in a domestic animal and sent samples for analysis in a private laboratory.
The measures will be introduced in the new Tuberculosis (England) Order 2001 subject to the results of consultation.
Junior farm minister Baroness Hayman said the proposals would help improve understanding of the disease and tighten controls.
Many farmers say TB-infected badgers are responsible for the soaring rates of bovine TB in cattle which are growing at 23% a year.
Agriculture minister Nick Brown has called for a parliamentary debate on the possibility of killing badgers outside trial zones in a bid to tackle the problem.