Vets Welcome Step Towards Badger Cull In Wales

Main Category: Veterinary
Article Date: 02 Oct 2009 - 11:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has welcomed the TB Eradication (Wales) Order 2009, laid today, which will give the Welsh Assembly Government the legal powers to use culling and vaccination of badgers as part of the tuberculosis eradication programme in Wales.

The move comes after a 14-week public consultation carried out by the Welsh Assembly Government. The Rural Affairs Minister has not yet taken the final decision on implementing a cull but the Order confers the necessary powers on ministers ready for the decision to be made.

Commenting, Professor Bill Reilly, President of the BVA, said

"TB eradication is a huge priority for the veterinary profession and we welcome this move by the Welsh Assembly Government towards implementing the targeted cull of badgers.

"We understand that they have to do this properly and we support the need for preparatory work to be carried out ahead of the cull. With the legal requirements being put in place today we hope that work can progress quickly, for the benefit of both badgers and cattle.

"Last weekend the BVA held its annual Congress in Wales where TB eradication was one of the most hotly-debated issues. There is a strong appetite for action amongst the veterinary profession for tackling the spread of this disease."

Notes

1. BVA Congress 09 was held in Cardiff from 24-26 September. Sessions on TB included

- 'TB Issues: limitations of diagnostics and vaccination': chaired by John Blackwell, President of the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA). Speakers: Andrew Biggs, partner in mixed practice in Devon and past-president of BCVA, and Prof Glyn Hewinson, TB Research Group, Veterinary Laboratories Agency

- 'Bovine TB: Where do we go from here?': chaired by Dr Christianne Glossop, Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales. Speakers: Andrew Biggs, partner in mixed practice in Devon and past-president of BCVA, and Robbie MacDonald, and Dr Robbie McDonald, Head of wildlife and emerging diseases programme at the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera)

2. The BVA's policy position on tuberculosis

Source
British Veterinary Association