A review of Northern Ireland's approach to tackling bovine
tuberculosis (bTB), including nearly 40 proposals to help
eradicate the disease, has been welcomed by Agriculture,
Environment and Rural Affairs Minister .
Minister Muir asked the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) Brian
Dooher to complete this thorough review into all matters relating
to the bTB programme and policy.
The review, which contains nearly 40 proposals, is structured
around three thematic areas of people, cattle and wildlife. It
contains the CVO's opinion on the corrective measures which, if
implemented holistically, would help resolve the deteriorating
disease picture here.
These proposals include actions aimed at changing culture;
protecting uninfected herds from disease; detecting and removing
infection effectively and efficiently; reducing transmission to
other herds and wildlife; development of a wildlife intervention
strategy; changes to compensation and proposals for further
research, and a new approach to regionalisation.
Minister Muir and his Department will now consider the Review
with the Minister seeking, as a first step, that officials
urgently provide options for the establishment of a new
industry/government partnership body to produce a delivery plan,
based on the CVO Review and the Departments 2022 bTB
Eradication Strategy, as quickly as possible. The Minister has
indicated his commitment for this body to commence work by
January 2025.
Receiving the report, Minister Muir said: “I welcome the Chief
Veterinary Officer's report and would like to express my thanks
to the range of stakeholders for their engagement in the review
which was undertaken at pace over recent months. This is a
pivotal report giving us a detailed and Northern Ireland specific
overview of current challenges which has the potential to help
put us on a much better course towards aim of bTB eradication.
“Collaboration and partnership working is key to help turn the
situation around, it is of fundamental importance that industry,
stakeholders and government work closer together.
“The status quo is not an option, change over short, medium and
long term is essential. The mental health impact upon farmers is
of deep personal concern to me and the significant financial
burden upon both the industry and borne by government cannot
continue.
bTB herd incidence and animal incidence rates in Northern Ireland
have continued to rise, standing at 10.41% and 1.158% for the
last 12 months to the end of October 2024. In the 2023/24
financial year, total Departmental bTB programme expenditure was
£55.7million of which £36.5 million was paid in compensation.
This is a rise of 39% since 2020/21.
The Minister continued: “I am immediately confirming my
acceptance of Brian's proposal that a new bTB Partnership
Steering Group should be established, comprising representatives
from the farming, wildlife and veterinary communities.
“I intend to have this group set up by the start of January and
its first task will be to work through with the CVO the proposals
in his paper in a spirit of co-design, with a particular focus on
identifying the immediate priorities for action and the steps
needed to put them in place.
“This cannot be a lengthy process and I will therefore be looking
for a delivery plan from the group before the end of March,
accompanied by a communications plan.”
It must be made clear, that this document reflects a review
undertaken by the CVO. It does not reflect any final decision
from the Minister at this juncture. A number of the elements, if
advanced, will be subject to further policy development,
financial and legislative assessment, and ultimate consideration
by the Minister in the time ahead.
Speaking of his review, CVO Brian Dooher said: “This review has
provided a stark picture of the particular challenges we face in
the fight to control bTB, challenges which must be overcome if we
are to finally set NI on a path to eradication.
“The urgency with which this now must be addressed is a direct
response to the significant deterioration in the national bTB
situation in NI, with a concurrent increase in expenditure. These
proposals are, I hope, the start of a new journey on our path to
control and eradicate this disease from NI.”
The review can be accessed via the DAERA website
at: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/chief-veterinary-officer-review-bovine-tuberculosis-northern-ireland-november-2024
