28 February 2008

2 minute read

Europe

The association says that EFRA’s recommendation that Defra should quickly adopt a properly funded, balanced, and multi-faceted approach to TB control in England is pressing the Secretary of State, Hilary Benn, to approve planned badger population reduction in specific, hot spot, control areas.

“EFRA is in no doubt that effective TB eradication must include the introduction of anti-badger controls that fall in line with procedural advice laid down by the Independent Scientific Group (ISG) and former chief scientist, Sir David King,” said NBA TB committee chairman, Bill Harper.

“And in view of this the Association calls on Mr Benn to follow up EFRA’s conclusions and authorise Natural England to set up a processing system to approve badger reduction licences submitted by co-ordinated groups of farmers in hotspot areas.

“As soon as an approval system is established, the NBA will be advising groups that it has worked with closely over the past 18 months to submit their licence applications and demonstrate that their plans meet the pre-conditions that EFRA too has backed.”

According to Mr Harper preliminary organisation for one project, code named VLA9 after the strain of TB spoligotype prevalent in that area of North Cornwall and north west Devon , which covers almost 800 square kilometers, and is bounded by coastline, rivers, trunk roads, and moorland, is close to being completed.

The VLA9 project must be done is partnership with Defra who will need to monitor and facilitate the work. This project being offered by the industry to Defra is the most exceptional offer ever made by the farming industry to take ownership of this out of control notifiable disease.

“The project leaders are confident that they can deliver sustained badger population reduction for a minimum of three years over at least 75 per cent of the land area and are very keen to put their applications in front of Natural England,” he said.

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