CLA tells Defra Ministers to get off the fence on TB

The CLA (The Country Land and Business Association) has applauded the decision by Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones to take a proactive approach to controlling bovine TB in Wales.

CLA President, Henry Aubrey-Fletcher said, "The Welsh Assembly Government have taken a rational decision to implement a multifaceted strategy, made up of both cattle and wildlife controls in order to begin the long overdue process of eradication of bovine TB. We are urging our own Ministers to follow this sensible approach".

The Welsh Minister has announced a targeted cull of badgers in TB high incidence areas, with priority given to an intensive action pilot in an area identified as a TB hotspot.

This decision confirms the CLA's long held interpretation of the extensive international scientific evidence on the control of bovine TB, that a policy of eradication cannot be achieved unless it deals with the disease in both domestic animals and susceptible wildlife vectors", added CLA President.

"Bovine TB is rising dramatically which is clear evidence that the current mechanisms for control are failing.

"Defra Ministers must get off the fence and take the necessary action to establish freedom from this 'zoonic' disease in our most economically important domestic species-cattle, as well as secure healthy wildlife species. This can only be achieved by a combination of approaches including the targeted culling of domestic and wildlife reservoirs".