Bovine TB: TB Advisory Group
What is the TB Advisory Group?
The Government strategic framework for the sustainable control of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in Great Britain was published on 1 March 2005.
Its aim is to develop a new partnership, to apply the principles of the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy so that Government and stakeholders can work together constructively to reduce the economic impact of bTB, and at the same time maintain public health protection and animal health and welfare.
A specific Government commitment in this strategic framework was to “establish a new national bTB stakeholder body to advise on the development of bTB policies, including how best to ensure regional focus”.
On 20 July 2006 we appointed the Chairman of the TB Advisory Group. Peter Jinman has been appointed for 3 years and plays a leading role in Defra’s engagement with interested organisations. He reports to Defra Ministers and the Chief Veterinary Officer.
Members of the Group were subsequently appointed by the CVO in October 2006. We recruited a small number of members with different backgrounds and interests to ensure a balance of experience across farming, veterinary, conservation and welfare issues. Members are: Brian Jennings (beef farmer), Bill Madders (dairy farmer), James Kirkwood (veterinary scientist with animal welfare expertise, Universities Federation for Animal Welfare) and Andrew Cunningham (scientist with wildlife conservation expertise, Institute of Zoology).
On average, the TB Advisory Group has met monthly since it was established in November 2006. These meetings have given the Group the opportunity to listen to the views and concerns of all interested organisations on tackling bovine TB in England and have helped inform their advice to the department. More information on these meetings can be found here. The Group has also attended an information seminar on Ireland's TB Strategy to learn more about developments in the control and eradication of TB in Ireland, with particular emphasis on research.
The Group wrote to Lord Rooker on 16 October 2007 providing an update on its work and reporting on the discussions the Group has had with stakeholders. These discussions focused in particular on the Final Report of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG).
The Group has provided input to Defra’s TB Vaccines Programme, which is working with stakeholders to consider possible options for using cattle and badger vaccines when they are available, to help reduce the incidence of TB in cattle. Further information on the TB Vaccines Programme is available.
More information, and the TB Advisory Group's previous advice to the department on husbandry best practice advice to farmers and pre-movement testing, can be found through the links below:
- Group advice to Defra Ministers and the CVO
- Terms of reference
- Group members
- Meetings and engagements
- Publication Scheme
Contact details
The TB Advisory Group routinely publishes information on this website.
In addition the Group’s Secretariat can provide information in electronic file or hard paper copy, available on request from:
TB Advisory Group Secretariat
Defra
6th Floor, Millbank
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
Telephone: 020 7238 6368
To speak to someone about any bovine TB policy, or any other Defra issue, please contact the Defra Helpline on 08459 33 55 77. Alternatively, you can contact the TB Programme.
Page last modified: 3 September, 2008