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ARCHIVE: Bovine TB Eradication Group for England

Highlights of the 36th Meeting on Wednesday 12 October 2011

The Group received an update on various badger control issues following the consultation period which closed on 20th September. Defra officials were continuing to work closely with Natural England and the Association of Chief Police Officers on policing issues. Members were supportive of the development of the proposals for monitoring in pilot cull areas, highlighting the need to accumulate evidence on the humaneness and effectiveness of controlled shooting.

The Group discussed the EU’s Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) mission which took place from 5th to 16th September. The FVO’s draft report would be issued to Defra shortly and the Government will have 5 weeks in which to comment. In addition there will be a European Commission financial audit from 24th to 28th October, relating to the UK’s €27m funding allocation from the EU Vet Fund for the 2010 TB Eradication Plan.

TBEG agreed to the setting up of an ad-hoc working group to look at the feasibility of and options for risk-based trading. The group would draw from a range of stakeholders and would consider issues and make recommendations to TBEG and Defra on the development of an approach for improved sharing of TB risk information to help farmers make better informed decisions when buying cattle.

The Group considered how to better address TB spread risks from certain CTS links and Single Occupancy Authorities (SOA).  It also discussed plans to engage more broadly with stakeholders on developments in the cattle surveillance and control programme, a number of which were signalled in the TB Eradication Programme for England.

The Group received an update on AHVLA’s TB testing procurement exercise, further details can be found on the Animal Health website and on the roll-out of Sam Release 6.

Following on from the July meeting, the Group discussed the further development of a strategic level framework for tackling TB spread at the edge of high TB risk areas.

Page published: 9 November 2011