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Questions over TB disinfectants

- 15 December 2000
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15 December 2000



Questions over TB disinfectants

By Johann Tasker

THE Ministry of Agriculture is testing all disinfectants used against bovine tuberculosis after research showed only one in four products works properly.

Only 17 of 62 distinct products approved by MAFF as a statutory disease control against bovine TB are fully effective at the approved dilution.

In many cases, the disinfectants have been used for years by vets, farmers, markets and hauliers, who believed they were helping combat the disease.

A further 16 of the 62 products are no longer manufactured. But a “significant number” of the remaining 29 disinfectants are ineffective at the approved dilution.

The Veterinary Laboratories Agency has been ordered to conduct further investigations to uncover the extent of the problem.

Manufacturers have already been given three weeks to appeal against the withdrawal of seven disinfectants removed from the approved list of products.

A MAFF spokeswoman said any necessary regulatory action would be taken as soon as any representations had been assessed.

The withdrawn products are:

  • Kleencare DS680;
  • Trigene II;
  • Genie 11;
  • Killgerm PX-Parvo II;
  • Hycolin; and
  • Genus Universal and Zal Universal.

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