The Welsh government has been issued calls to secure the future of the bovine TB eradication programme in light of the decision to leave the EU, particularly in light of 'worrying' TB rates in Wales.
Plaid Cymru Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Simon Thomas said that the number of cattle slaughtered due to Bovine TB control had increased by 41% in the 12 months ending in April 2016, and warned that in some counties it had doubled.
This comes after calls from the Farmers Union of Wales that the current status of bovine TB in Wales could put future trade deals at risk.
The Welsh Government receives a share of £23 million of funding from the EU for its Bovine TB Eradication Programme, and this funding will come to an end as a result of the UK’s decision to leave the EU.
Mr Thomas called on the Labour government to secure the programme’s funding for the long-term, warning that a continued rise in slaughtered animals could devastate rural Wales.
'Devestate farms and livelihoods'
Plaid Cymru Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Simon Thomas said: "A TB infection can devastate farms and livelihoods, and we need to work quickly and effectively to minimise the threat of infection.
"That’s why we need to end any uncertainty for future funding that has been caused by Brexit.
"The number of herds under restrictions – that can paralyze agricultural businesses – actually increased in Carmarthenshire during the last period, while remaining broadly the same in Ceredigion and Gwynedd.
"Clearly, there remains a lot of work to be done to the TB Eradication Programme before it is fit for purpose.
"Any celebrating of the modest decline in recent headline figures is premature – a cursory glance at the county-specific data exposes the true story of Bovine TB in Wales.
"If the TB eradication programme is allowed to end then infection rate could spiral.
"It is vital that no question is raised regarding Wales's bTB status which may lead the EU to close the market to our dairy products.
"The EU and other trade partners will want to see a real commitment to bTB eradication by this Welsh Government to reassure them we are taking it seriously."
