Bovine TB: Second TB Advisory Group meeting - Tuesday 5th December 2006
Meeting summary
1. There was no formal agenda for this meeting. The meeting focussed on a discussion of pre-movement testing and the Group’s advice to Ministers and the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO).
2. The Chairman began by updating the Group on other meetings he had had since the first meeting. The Chairman had met with Sir Don Curry (Chair of Defra’s Delivery Group & co-Chair of the Leadership Group for the Farming and Food Strategy) to get feedback from Sir Don’s regional visits across the country. TB had been raised during these visits. The Chairman also had an introductory meeting with Professor John Bourne (Chairman of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB).
3. The Group then focussed their discussions on pre-movement testing and their advice on the practical delivery and impacts of pre-movement testing both in terms of current policy (phase 1 – applied to cattle over 15 months) and looking ahead to the extension of all cattle over 42 days of age next March (phase II). To aid their discussion, the Group considered the evidence and analyses presented by Defra to the stakeholders at the meeting on 1 December, the views expressed there by stakeholders and by their separate, wider discussions with interested parties. Other colleagues from Defra joined the discussion to answer questions on the costs and benefits to help aid their considerations.
4. The Group’s advice will be published on Defra’s website in the New Year after it has been submitted to Ministers and the CVO. This summary note will be published on Defra’s website as soon as practicable.
5. The next meeting will take place on 24 January 2007. The meeting is expected to focus on good husbandry advice and procedures.
Those present:
Peter Jinman (Chairman)
Brian Jennings
Bill Madders
James Kirkwood
Andrew Cunningham
Simon Scanlan Defra (for part of the meeting)
Gabrielle Edwards Defra
Helen Ainsworth Defra
Teresa Filley Defra, TB Advisory Group Secretary
TB Advisory Group Secretariat
29 December 2006
Page last modified:
12 January 2007