Soil Association welcomes Defra’s decision on bluetongue vaccination

The Soil Association welcomes Defra's announcement to issue a tender for a bluetongue vaccine bank.

Phil Stocker, head of food and farming, said,

"Defra's call to develop a suitable vaccine is a positive step in helping to protect British livestock from this new disease. Organic farmers and the general public should rest assured that there is no risk to the organic status of any livestock that are vaccinated against bluetongue disease. Currently, no suitable vaccine exists for the strain of bluetongue (BTV8) that is in circulation in parts of the UK. However, development is now underway and suitable vaccines should become available by summer 2008. When a bluetongue vaccine becomes available the organic status of any vaccinated livestock produced by Soil Association licensees will not be affected."