Could UK Bovine TB Rates Put Post-Brexit Trade Deals at Risk?

In the past week, the fallout from the UK’s vote to leave the European Union continued, with Angela Leadsom appointed the country’s new Secretary of State responsible for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The National Farmers Union President Meurig Raymond said he looked forward to working with Mrs Leadsom on Brexit, but urged her to address more immediate farming issues such as TB whilst championing British food.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales said this week that current rates of bovine TB could put at risk the trade deals the UK needs after leaving the EU.

President Glyn Roberts said: “We know that the current rates of bovine TB may represent a significant threat in terms of meat and dairy exports once we are outside the EU, and there is a real risk that our current TB status could be used against us during trade negotiations.

“This means that we have to proactively address the problem, otherwise we might jeopardise all UK trade negotiations with Europe.” – Click here to read more.

In other news this week, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA) questioned the fairness of the EU’s new support package for dairy farmers, saying Irish beef farmers are struggling with low incomes and uncertain markets.

The organisation’s President Patrick Kent said: “We are simply looking for equal treatment for the beef sector, however yet again we are seeing aid flooding to the dairy sector while the beef sector is cast adrift.

"How is it that Brussels can repeatedly come up with money for dairy farmers and find nothing for beef farmers? This is particularly galling for beef farmers in the light of the impact that Brexit is already having.” – Read more.