More than seven months on from the decision made by the Environment Minister, John Griffiths, to review the scientific evidence base behind the Wales TB eradication programme, the silence of Welsh Government on this matter speaks a thousand words according to NFU Cymru.
Speaking at Pembrokeshire NFU Cymru Conference, Stephen James, NFU Cymru Deputy President said, "Whilst we recognise that the decision to move forward with a badger control policy is not a universally popular decision, this Government cannot continue to skirt the issue. Governments are elected to make the tough decisions that ensure the people and industries they represent can prosper. The silence from Welsh Government on this issue is resulting in this Government losing the respect of all cattle farmers and their families who 12 months ago had real hope that bovine TB could, by working jointly with Government, be eradicated from Wales.
"As an industry we are being put under growing financial and emotional strain in trying to adhere with increasingly complex and costly cattle control measures which we know that without a concurrent strategy to tackle the disease in wildlife will do little to curb and eventually eradicate the incidence of bovine TB in Wales. Farmers cannot continue to put up with these measures without a firm commitment from Government that they will play their part by removing the reservoir of infection in Wildlife."
NFU Cymru is also questioning whether the size of the Environment and Sustainability Portfolio is having an impact on the time it is taking for the Minister to make a decision on this matter, Mr James said, "We have to question whether Animal Health and Welfare is being given the priority it deserves within this Ministerial portfolio. We respect that the Minister has a wide ranging and diverse portfolio under his remit but this is of no comfort to cattle farmers who wake up each and every morning having to deal with the ravaging effect of bovine TB on their livelihoods. If the delays over making a decision on Bovine TB are a reflection of workload or priorities then it is high time that Animal Health and Welfare matters were repatriated to the Agriculture portfolio.
"The Minister received the report of the scientific review group in early December, the science base supported a wildlife control policy 12 months ago, we are confident that the science continues to back this approach. The responsibility is now firmly in the hands of this Government to deliver and bring to an end the suffering for diseased cattle and diseased wildlife.
"NFU Cymru had concerns last June when this review was announced, we feared despite statements to the contrary by the Environment Minister, that this was just a delaying tactic by the Government. I am afraid that our prophecy has been proved correct, however, we continue to have a small window of opportunity now where this Government can show its commitment to put TB eradication back on track in Wales."
