MP LAUNCHES NEW FARM STRATEGY

Lewes MP and Lib Dem Shadow Rural Affairs Secretary Norman Baker has today launched a new Lib Dem strategy for dealing with the increasingly desperate problem of Bovine TB.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Oct 2005, 12:57 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 22:37 BST

The strategy combines three elements crucial for tackling Bovine TB:

'¢ An immediate and focused programme of badger control in hotspot areas, including the South West of England and parts of Sussex, to prevent cross contamination between badgers and cattle

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'¢ The introduction of pre- and post- movement testing of cattle to limit cattle to cattle infection

'¢ Enhanced Government support immediately for the research and development required for a vaccine to address the long term."

Commenting on this, Norman says:

"The Government has ducked this problem for far too long. What is urgently needed is not only a firm commitment to deal definitively with this issue, but interim measures to stop any further escalation.

"Bovine TB is a highly emotive issue- the animal welfare implications for badgers are distressing and the longer the problem is left, the worse the situation will become for all parties.

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"There are compelling animal health and welfare reasons for adopting this strategy, as well as sound economic ones. The Government cannot continue to keep its eyes closed and hope the problem will go away '“ it won't. We need some courageous actions. The Liberal Democrats have proposed it '“ will the Government now grasp the nettle?"

Related topics:Norman BakerGovernment