Current status of bovine TB in Wales 'could put future trade deals at risk'

Welsh Bovine TB status could put future trade deals in jeopardy, FUW warns
Welsh Bovine TB status could put future trade deals in jeopardy, FUW warns

The current status of bovine TB in Wales could put future trade deals at risk, the Farmers’ Union of Wales has warned.

Addressing their conference at the Royal Welsh Show, FUW President Glyn Roberts said: "We know that the current rates of bovine TB may represent a significant threat in terms of meat and dairy exports once we are outside the EU.

"There is a real risk that our current TB status could be used against us during trade negotiations.

"This means that we have to proactively address the problem, otherwise we might jeopardise all UK trade negotiations with Europe.

"The FUW’s policy on proactively managing the wildlife disease reservoir has been well publicised, what has now changed is that failing to implement that policy may lead to the loss of our export markets post-Brexit," the Union President added.

The Union calls on the Welsh Government to initiate a 'proactive badger management policy' at to ensure Wales 'does not risk losing access to foreign markets'.

'UK's trade policies at risk'

Glyn Roberts warned: "If we do not sort out the long running problems with Bovine TB we will be putting the UK’s Trade policies at complete risk.

"We will not be able to trade with the European Union without fixing – or having a clear programme to fix – the issue of Bovine TB.

"This is not just about dairy – it will impact all sectors. The Welsh Government has it in its powers now to take proactive action and on behalf of all of us who wish to export in the future.

"This is not an issue for individual farmers to apply for licenses. It needs a centrally planned and managed solution.

"It is now time for the Welsh Government to accept that they already have powers and responsibilities and they cannot now hide behind EU regulations."

"As the FUW predicted, throwing millions of pounds at badger vaccination in and around north Pembrokeshire has yielded no results whatsoever.

"The clock is now ticking – how fast, we don’t know, but it is ticking, and we need to see our Welsh Government taking the sort of aggressive proactive approach to the disease in wildlife they have taken towards cattle.

"If they don’t, then there is a significant risk that our export negotiations will be at an end before they start," stressed the FUW President.