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Consultation on amendments to legislation to allow lay vaccination of badgers against bovine tuberculosis

Consultation on proposed amendment to legislation to allow the vaccination of badgers against tuberculosis to be carried out by persons other than veterinary surgeons.

It is planned as part of the Badger Vaccine Deployment Project that vaccination would be carried out by persons other than veterinary surgeons. Such persons would be trained by the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) and licensed by Natural England, or by the appropriate licensing authority.

Currently, the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 prohibits any act of veterinary surgery, which includes the vaccination of badgers by injection, from being carried out by non-veterinary surgeons.

Having had informal discussions with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and other veterinary organisations, an Order to allow persons other than veterinary surgeons to carry out this task is not seen to be controversial, provided that such people have been deemed competent to carry out vaccination and have been adequately trained and licensed to do so.

Defra is seeking views solely on the administration of the vaccine by persons other than veterinary surgeons; the conditions specified in the exemption order to ensure competence of such persons; and the training course that has been designed with veterinary input.

Comments are invited on the proposals. Responses should be received by Friday 8 January 2010.

The consultation package includes:

Further information

Page published: 7 October 2009