GOVERNMENT MUST RE-THINK BOVINE TB POLICY - WILLIAMS

2.30.11pm GMT Wed 29th Oct 2008

Commenting today on the Government position on bovine TB, Roger Williams MP, Liberal Democrat Food and Rural Affairs Spokesperson, has called for the Government to re-think their policy.

Mr Williams said:

"I recently received answers to a number of parliamentary questions that I had tabled on this matter and the responses suggest the Government policy hasn't been properly thought through.

"Vaccines for badger immunisation will not be available until 2014 and for cattle that date is late 2015, meaning at least another 7 years of pre-movement testing before vaccines become available to immunise livestock.

"Additionally, cattle vaccines for bovine TB are prohibited under EU Law, which could cost the UK its TB-Free status as vaccinated cattle would appear to be infected and herds could not officially be declared TB free.

"A different differential test (DIVA test) will be needed to allow vaccinated animals to be differentiated from those that are infected.

"To resolve this situation changes at an EU level will be required. If these changes are not made then cattle exporters could be severely hit by the difficulty in proving herds are not infected.

"British farming has been hit hard in recent years by various disease outbreaks and if British cattle loses its TB-Free status then it will be another hammer-blow to the industry.

"Before the government invest large sums of money in a vaccine that could destroy British cattle exports the Government must ensure that the introduction of a bovine TB vaccination will not damage British agriculture.

"Whilst this issue is resolved it would seem appropriate for the Government to commit to a pilot badger cull, as suggested by the Government Chief Scientist and the EFRA Committee, to fully determine what effect such a cull would have on TB rates in cattle."

NOTES:

The full text of the responses received from Jane Kennedy can be found at:

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2008-10-21a.228377.h&s=speaker%3A11324#g228377.q0

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2008-10-20a.227319.h&s=speaker%3A11324#g227319.q0

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2008-10-21a.227340.h&s=speaker%3A11324#g227340.q0

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2008-10-20a.227316.h&s=speaker%3A11324#g227316.q0