EU pledges up to €10m towards Bovine TB UK eradication programme
The European Commission’s Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health has today agreed to provide €10 million of EU funding to support the UK’s Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) Eradication Plan for 2010.
The Plan sets out the programme of surveillance and control measures in place from 1 January 2010, including the latest policy developments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It details the history of TB, current cattle controls, TB wildlife and controls, disease statistics and TB spending. For England, the plan takes on board recommendations of the TB Eradication Group for England (TBEG) and the sub-group of the European Commission’s Task Force for animal diseases.
Hilary Benn welcomed the announcement, saying:
“The European Commission’s decision to provide financial support to the UK’s Bovine TB eradication programme in 2010 is a welcome boost and we will continue to work with the Commission, devolved administrations and TB Eradication Group to deliver an effective programme to work to eradicate the disease.”
The funding will be divided between England, Wales and Northern Ireland and can be used to contribute to the costs of TB testing and compensation for cattle slaughtered.
The plan will now go forward for formal approval and publication by the European Commission later this year.
Further information
Page last modified: 16 October 2009
Page published: 16 October 2009