NEWS RELEASE
Date: 1 March 2007
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Pre-movement testing extended to younger animals
Pre-movement testing for bovine TB has today been extended to all cattle over 42 days old, unless the herd or movement meets an exemption.
Pre-movement testing is an important measure to reduce the risk of TB being spread through cattle movements. Defra assessments estimate that testing cattle over 42 days old will save 610 new incidents per year.
All cattle over 42 days old moving from a 1 or 2 yearly tested herd must have tested negative to a TB test within 60 days prior to movement, unless the herd or movement meets an exemption. Whilst pre-movement tests must be arranged and paid for by herd owners, routine surveillance tests paid for by the Government can be used as a pre-movement test for a period of 60 days.
Pre-movement testing was introduced in March 2006 in England and May 2006 in Wales. This policy has been rolled out in 2 stages to give farmers and vets time to adapt their businesses.
Cattle movements are a serious cause of disease spread. Emerging evidence shows new TB incidents are being prevented by TB pre-movement tests as well as routine surveillance tests. Infection is also being picked up earlier in high-risk herds.
Further information on pre-movement testing can be found at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/premovement/index.htmNotes to editors
1.Extension of the policy in England was considered by the Ministerial Challenge Panel for Regulation on 23 January. The panel agreed, in the light of the available evidence, that stage 2 should proceed as planned and that a formal review of the policy would be conducted in March 2008.
2.Defra estimates that once fully implemented the policy will save about 610 new TB incidents per year. Total costs of the policy per year are estimated as £5.9 million, total benefits £10.5 million, giving net benefits of £4.6 million.
3.Monitoring the impacts of pre-movement testing is ongoing and key statistics are published on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/premovement/monitoring-data.htm
4.Further information on bovine TB can be found here: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/index.htm
End
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Page published: 1 March 2007