Bovine Tuberculosis: the Government’s approach to tackling the disease and consultation on a badger control policy
Ref: Ref number 35/10
Issued: Issue date 2010-09-15
Consultation starts: Open date 2010-09-15
Consultation closes: Close date 2010-12-08Summary
The Coalition Government has committed, as part of a package of measures, to develop affordable options for a carefully-managed and science-led policy of badger control in areas with high and persistent levels of bovine TB in cattle. Defra is inviting your views on the Government’s planned approach to tackling bovine TB in badgers through this consultation.
The incidence rate of bovine TB in cattle has been rising for 25 years with the cost to Government of controlling bovine TB in England at over £63 million in 2009/10 (excludes research and development). These costs are rising year by year so there is a strong case for early effective action to turn this around. Eradicating bovine TB is our long term goal, but additional measures are needed urgently to stop the disease spreading and to start to reverse the rising trend. The farming industry and Government need to work in partnership to achieve this.
There is no single solution to tackling bovine TB – we need to use every tool in the toolbox. Scientific evidence indicates that in areas with high incidence of bovine TB in cattle, it will not be possible to eliminate the disease in cattle without addressing the disease in badgers. No other country in the world has successfully tackled bovine TB in cattle without addressing the wildlife reservoir. The overall aim is to put measures in place to control the disease in badgers for areas with a high incidence of bovine TB in cattle.
This consultation will be of interest to a wide range of stakeholders: farmers and farming industry, landowners, veterinary industry, wildlife groups, members of the public; non-Government organisations and rural groups.
Consultation documents
- Consultation document (PDF 680 KB)
- Letter to consultees (PDF 130 KB)
- List of consultees (PDF 80 KB)
- Annex A - History of TB control in the UK (PDF 100 KB)
- Annex B - Scientific evidence on culling (PDF 560 KB)
- Annex C - Scientific evidence on vaccination (PDF 340 KB)
- Annex D - Veterinary assessment on vaccination (PDF 215 KB)
- Annex E - Veterinary assessment on culling (PDF 220 KB)
- Annex F - Impact Assessment (PDF 820 KB)
- Annex G - Questions and Answers (PDF 220 KB)
Related information
How to respond
Name: TBBC mailbox
Address: Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR
Email: tbbc@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Page last modified: Page modified 2010-09-15
Page published: Issue date 2010-09-15
Friday, 17 September 2010
Bovine Tuberculosis: the Government’s approach to tackling the disease and consultation on a badger control policy
via defra.gov.uk
