02/07/12 ~ Cattle movement rules amended 1 July – reminder
RPA is reminding cattle keepers in England that changes Defra announced earlier this year have now come into effect:
Measures to reduce the risk of bovine TB being spread between cattle have been strengthened as part of the Government’s plan to eradicate the disease in England.
Amendments to the rules on cattle movements came into force on Sunday 1 July, alongside changes to compensation policy, including reduced payments for owners of TB affected herds with overdue tests.
Changes include:-
- Removing the exemption allowing cattle held on a farm for under 30 days to be moved without being tested, in order to reduce the risk of untested cattle spreading bovine TB when they are moved between different holdings;
- Removing the pre-movement testing exemption for movements within ‘Sole Occupancy Authorities’ that have holdings in high and low risk TB areas;
- Pre-movement testing for cattle moved from higher TB risk herds to agricultural shows where cattle are housed or are held there for more than 24 hours – to reduce the risk of untested cattle, from higher TB risk herds, spreading the disease through close contact with other cattle; and
- Discouraging late testing of cattle for bovine TB to reduce disease spread risks for all cattle, by reducing compensation for owners of TB affected herds if tests are overdue by more than 60 days.
See
Defra News for full details.
Page published: 2 July 2012