A review of the Government’s 25 Year Bovine TB Strategy, led by
Sir Charles Godfray, has been published today (Tuesday 13
November).
The report, which was commissioned by
Environment Secretary in February, aims
to inform future strategies around the Government’s goal of
eradicating the disease by 2038.
The report is now with Ministers who will consider its
recommendations before publishing a response, setting out the
next steps for the bTB Strategy.
Farming Minister said:
‘’We welcome this review of the Government’s 25-year Bovine TB
strategy and I extend my thanks to Sir Charles Godfray and his
team for their hard work in producing the report.
‘’As a Government we are committed to eradicating bTB and have
always been clear that there is no single measure for tackling
it. That’s why we have pursued a range of interventions,
including cattle movement controls, vaccinations and controlled
culling in certain areas.
“Sir Charles’ report is an important contribution that will
inform next steps in the strategy to achieve officially TB free
status for England by 2038.’’
Sir Charles Godfray, population biologist and Fellow of
the Royal Society said:
“The Review Panel are acutely aware of the burden this disease
places on the welfare and well-being of farmers and their
families, and the distress many people feel about badger culling.
“There are no easy answers to reducing disease levels and what is
required is new drive and a concerted and concentrated effort by
all sectors involved.”
The findings from the report include:
- Industry must take greater responsibility for on-farm
controls, biosecurity and safe trading practices to stop the
disease spreading.
- More can be done to help farmers make purchasing decisions
reflecting the risks of cattle being infected.
- Evidence shows that badgers do transmit bovine TB to cattle
and contribute to the persistence of the disease.
- Disease reduction would benefit from greater flexibility and
agility in adapting bovine TB control measures as new research
findings emerge
- A new independent body on disease control would be helpful to
take over disease control operations from APHA, Natural England
and local authorities. [This recommendation will be considered by
the government in light of the wider Dame Glenys Stacey review
into farm inspections].
