Thursday, December 18, 2003

Parliamentary Questions

18 Dec 2003: Column 1018W

Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for pre-movement testing of cattle for exposure to m.bovis. [144438]

Mr. Bradshaw: All farmers have been sent a leaflet "Golden rules for a healthy herd", which advises purchasers to check the disease status of cattle prior to purchase.

In February 2003, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced a review of our bovine tuberculosis strategy. Early in the new year we will be publishing a consultation document which will represent the outcome of the first stage of that review. The consultation document will include proposals for short-term measures for reducing the risk of geographic spread of bovine TB from high to low incidence areas, including consideration of proposals for the pre and/or post movement of cattle.

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