industry joins forces in fight to stamp out bovine tb

 

The Tenant Farmers Association is pleased to be part of a coalition of 10 industry bodies putting their names to an eight-point statement of agreement responding to Hilary Benn's announcement to the House of Commons on bovine TB delivered on 07 July.

 

TFA National Chairman Greg Bliss said “There is a lot of anger within the farming community and the strength of the agreed statement from the 10 industry bodies reflects that.  We are resolute in our condemnation of the Government's position and we will not let DEFRA off the hook.  The industry statement sets out the terms under which we will be prepared to re-engage with the Government on this and other animal health issues and now the ball is very much in Hilary Benn's court”.

 

“We are however pleased to see that the all Party House of Commons Environment Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee has also condemned the Government for having no strategy to tackle bovine TB and for ‘opting out’ of leadership on the issue,” said Mr Bliss.

 

The industry statement reads as follows:

 

·         The groups represented at the meeting reaffirm their commitment to do everything possible to contain and eradicate bovine TB.

 

·         We demand that the government adopts a comprehensive programme to contain and ultimately eradicate this disease.

 

·         As part of this programme, the government must issue licences for the culling of wildlife as a disease control measure.

 

·         We will support legal action to challenge the Secretary of State’s decision that he would not issue such licences for TB control.

 

·         We will not participate in the TB Partnership Group announced by the Secretary of State unless it can set its own agenda; is able to examine all aspects of the issue; and can make its own recommendations to the Secretary of State.

 

·         We urge the government to invite the Commission TB Task Force to England to make recommendations on a comprehensive eradication plan.

 

·         We will urgently explore ways that future animal health decisions could be taken by an independent body.

 

·         We will not participate in discussions on responsibility sharing and will resist any attempts by government to put extra costs on the industry in the context of cost sharing on animal health and welfare issues.

 

The statement has been issued by the TFA, NFU, Country Land and Business Association, National Beef Association, Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers, National Pig Association, Women’s Food and Farming Union, Farmers for Action, National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs and the Livestock Auctioneers Association.

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