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Bovine TB Eradication Programme

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Wales' Commitment to Eradicating Bovine TB Recognised by Europe

Wales' commitment to eradicating bovine TB recognised by Europe
Environment Minister, John Griffiths has welcomed European approval of the Wales TB Eradication Plan 2013.

Questions and Answers

You will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions on the the Intensive Action Area here.

Oral Statement - Bovine TB

John Griffiths, Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development

Glossary

Glossary
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TB testing

We have to tackle the disease on all fronts if we want to stamp out bovine TB in Wales.

We are committed to a programme of bovine TB Eradication. The approach for dealing with bovine TB should be as with any other animal disease:

  • Find it;
  • Deal with the source of infection;
  • Stamp it out; and 
  • Stop it from coming back.

On 20 March 2012, Environment Minister John Griffiths announced a new Strategic Framework for Bovine TB Eradication covering the next four years. This builds on existing cattle surveillance and control measures, biosecurity best practice and input received from stakeholder engagement. It also includes the vaccination of badgers within the Intensive Action Area.

The Strategic Framework for Bovine TB Eradication sets out this Government’s intentions for the next four years in order to eradicate Bovine TB. Our approach is multi-pronged and includes:

  • Speeding up the testing regime -moving infected cattle off farms more quickly;
  • Change the compensation regime - reforming the compensation regime to encourage herd owners to follow best practice;
  • Wildlife - we must tackle all sources of infection. This includes wildlife as well as cattle;
  • Biosecurity - develop and promote improved husbandry and biosecurity practices to reduce the risk and manage Bovine TB;
  • Vaccine - actively support the GB vaccination programme to develop and trial a vaccine for cattle; 
  • Camelids - camelids such as llamas and alpacas are also susceptible to bovine TB. We will put in place a framework for tackling the disease in camelids;
  • Setting up Regional TB Eradication boards - three boards have been set up so that the disease can be dealt with on a local level.

We can only succeed with the support of the farming industry and rural communities.