The Liberal Democrats have attacked Government plans to make farmers pay to prevent animal diseases
It comes as the political battle for farming votes hots up ahead of the forthcoming General Election, which is widely expected to take place on May 6. Both Labour and Conservatives have made announcements about agricultural policy and the Lid Dems are also displaying their farming credentials with their opposition to the Government’s plans to impose a new tax on farmers under its draft Animal Health Bill.
The proposals would result in livestock farmers paying half the cost of preparing for animal disease outbreaks, and Liberal Democrat environment, food and rural affairs spokesman, Tim Farron said it was wrong. "It’s grossly unfair for ministers to make livestock farmers pay, given the 2007 foot and mouth outbreak came from Government-licensed premises," he said.
"The Government’s decision to pass the buck is a disgrace. Farmers understand the need to protect public health. But in the current economic climate there can be no justification for shifting the cost to livestock farmers."
The Lib Dems say that at the moment it costs Defra £44m per year to prevent animal disease and prepare for outbreaks. The proposals in the Government’s bill would make farmers pick up half the cost through a new tax on livestock. A total of £22m would be raised by putting a levy on different animals, from £4.80 for a dairy cow to 4p for a chicken.
Details of the Animal Health Bill were outlined in an announcement by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn. The bill will create a new body to take responsibility for animal health.
Other measures in the bill, which has been subject to consultation, include:
• Making statutory the role of chief veterinary officer (UK), based at Defra;
• A new chief veterinary officer for England;
• Widening existing powers in England and Wales to collect and test veterinary samples and to vaccinate animals;
• Simplifying payments for slaughtered animals or property seized or destroyed for disease control purposes in England and Wales.
The proposed animal health organisation would be led by an independent chairman and board.
The financial measures by which farmers will be taxed will be fully detailed in a future finance bill, although the plans are well known. The Government says that cost and responsibility sharing for the livestock industry was recommended by Sir Iain Anderson in his report on the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak. The NFU has voiced its opposition to the idea of cost sharing for animal disease.
Hilary Benn said, "Outbreaks of animal disease are bad for everyone – animals, their keepers, and for society. Protecting animals and people from the effects of potentially devastating diseases like foot and mouth, bluetongue and African Horse Sickness costs the public about £400 million a year.
"The proposals we are putting forward are in response to Sir Iain Anderson’s report on the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak. I believe that a partnership through the new animal health body – where the industry can contribute to decisions about animal health – will produce better management of disease and reduce overall risks and costs. This approach was very successful in tackling bluetongue, where industry and the Government developed a vaccination policy together and shared the cost of the vaccine.
"This bill will therefore set up a joint Government-industry body to make animal health decisions in future."
