WIREDGOV

A 12-week-long public consultation has been launched on proposals for new controls to address incidences of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in specific non-bovine animals including llamas, sheep and farmed deer.

The consultation, which started running yesterday (Monday September 29, 2014) and will run until Monday December 22, 2014, will consider the Scottish Government’s proposal to introduce legislation and a regime of TB controls covering camelids (alpacas, llamas, guanacos, vicunas), goats (farmed or domestic), sheep, pigs and deer (farmed).

TB is a serious infectious disease of cattle that can be passed on to other animals.

Rural Affairs and the Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said:

“Although the cattle industry is strictly regulated for TB, there are no legal powers in Scotland specifically covering controls of non-bovine species, except deer, where TB is strongly suspected or confirmed.

“The European Commission recognised Scotland as being officially tuberculosis free in September 2009 and the Scottish Government is very keen to maintain this.

“Introducing a non-bovine TB Order will provide Scottish Ministers and the Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) with the powers needed to deal effectively and quickly with TB incidents in camelids, goats, sheep, pigs and deer when they arise. It will also give us the ability to provide animal keepers with statutory compensation for animals slaughtered as a result of TB.

“We are launching this public consultation to engage directly with the various livestock sectors and who will shortly be invited to meet with officials to discuss any issues raised by the proposal.”

Notes To Editors

The Bovine TB consultation can be accessed via : http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/09/9485

The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining current low levels of TB in cattle and other species and to safeguard Scotland’s OTF status. This includes minimising all potential sources of infection and reducing the risk of disease spread as far as possible.

There are currently no specific legal powers in Scotland to allow testing and slaughter of non-bovine species, except deer, where TB is suspected or confirmed. Instead, general powers to test are provided under the Movement of Animals (Restriction) (Scotland) Order 2003. However, with no follow up powers to slaughter or to compensate for reactors, owners of affected livestock can refuse to voluntarily release any reactor animals for slaughter, resulting in their premises being placed under movement restrictions indefinitely.

The TB Order will not be used to introduce a regular TB testing regime for non-bovine animals or to introduce pre or post movement testing (as exists for cattle). Instead the powers will only be used where a TB incident is disclosed. In particular, non-bovine animals would be tested in the following circumstances:

• Where disease is identified through post mortem examination
• Where animals are ‘back traced’ from known breakdown herds
• Where disease is identified on contiguous premises
• Other epidemiological situations where AHVLA believe testing is warranted

Position in the rest of Britain

England – following recommendations in 2013, Defra announced a series of new measures for camelids which included:

• A voluntary code of practice on TB surveillance and herd accreditation, including pre and post movement testing and recording of camelid movements.
• A consultation on statutory compensation for owners of camelids that are slaughtered for TB control to enable a more effective testing regime for herds that experienced new TB break downs.

Wales – following a consultation on TB in non-bovine species in 2010, the Welsh Government introduced the Tuberculosis (Wales) Order 2011 which revoked and replaced the GB Tuberculosis (Deer) Order in Wales and made provision for testing and movement of non-bovine livestock, and also in respect of compensation to be paid for these non-bovine species slaughtered for TB.