Tougher penalties for overdue TB tests
FROM January, any farm with an overdue bovine TB test will be subjected to a reduction in the Common Agricultural Policy payment it receives.
The size of the penalty imposed on the farm will vary according to the severity of each case, with most penalties being up to five per cent of the CAP payment.
The move was announced by environment secretary Owen Paterson on November 28. In a written statement, Mr Paterson said:
"Late testing is unacceptable, so from January 1, 2014, anyone who fails to complete their test by the set deadline, even by one day, will see their CAP scheme payment reduced. The reductions will vary, depending on the seriousness of the case, but the outcome I want to see is no late testing at all.
The move by Defra is one of a series of measures designed to address long-standing weaknesses in bovine TB controls and reduce the risk of cattle-to-cattle transmission of the disease. They form part of the Government’s wider strategy for achieving national bovine TB-free status in England within 25 years.
Mr Paterson also announced a consultation into further measures to strengthen cattle controls already in place to reduce the risk of bovine TB. The consultation is now open and will run for seven weeks.
The consultation proposes the following measures.
• To abolish the pre-movement testing exemption for movements of cattle to and from common land by the end of April 2014, with the possibility of a waiver for movements from the common land back to the premises from which the cattle were turned out where the distance moved does not exceed a set distance limit.
• To phase out the practice of de-restricting parts of TB-restricted premises by the end of September 2014. After that date all parts of a single holding would be either officially TB free or under TB restrictions.
• To publish the location information on all new TB breakdowns, in order to aid livestock keepers’ risk management decisions.
• To clarify that wild or un-testable cattle will be culled.
Mr Paterson concluded: "I recognise these rigorous measures will be tough for a significant minority of livestock businesses. However, we will not achieve the aims of our strategy, and be able to guarantee the future of thriving cattle industry we all wish to see, without tackling all of the vectors by which this disease can spread. That is why Iremain committed to doing everything possible to get on top of and eradicate this devastating disease in both wildlife and cattle."
The consultation opened for submissions on November 28 and will run until January 10, 2014. To access the consultation, visit https://consult.defra.gov.uk/animal-health-and-welfare/proposals-for-new-bovine-tb-control-measures
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
