Policy on bovine TB is slated

Jul 23 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

THE Government’s policy for dealing with tuberculosis in cattle is not good enough and fails to recognise the seriousness of the situation, MPs said last night.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) Committee said it was extremely disappointed with the Government’s tentative response to its report into badgers and TB in cattle – in which it said culling badgers could make a contribution to tackling the disease.

The committee said there was little in the Government’s strategy, beyond the existing policy of surveillance, testing and slaughter, to address the problem in the short term.

“This is not good enough. It fails to recognise fully the seriousness of the situation,” they said.

The committee’s chairman Michael Jack said: “The committee unanimously felt that the response by the Secretary of State was less than satisfactory and that certain key deficiencies in it should be highlighted.

“We look forward to hearing from the Secretary of State again on this subject in the autumn.”

Earlier this month, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn ruled out giving farmers licences to cull, in a move backed by wildlife groups but condemned by the farming industry.

The decision was made after the Efra committee published its report into badgers and cattle TB in which it said that in certain circumstances, a cull could help reduce the disease in badly-hit areas.

But the MPs acknowledged culling badgers – which can spread the disease to cattle – alone would not be a universal solution to TB in herds.

In its response to the report, the Government said that having considered the evidence, it would not issue licences to farmers for a cull, but remained open to revisiting the policy under exceptional circumstances or if new scientific evidence were to become available.