The Scottish Government seek to gather views on specific proposals relating to bovine tuberculosis, including diagnostic testing, cattle movements, isolation requirements and unclean cattle.
Background
Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is a notifiable disease of cattle, which can also affect other mammals. It continues to present a significant challenge to the farming sector across the UK.
Scotland achieved Officially Tuberculosis Free Status (OTF) in September 2009, in recognition of the relatively low and stable incidence of TB found in Scottish herds, and this pattern is consistent with sporadic introductions of disease which are eradicated through testing and removal of infected cattle.
The current Tuberculosis (Scotland) Order came into force in 2007 and has been amended a number of times since, most recently to make amendments arising from the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU. We are proposing to consolidate all of the bovine tuberculosis legislation in one updated TB Order. We are also considering a number of amendments to the legislation.
The proposals set out below support the maintenance of our OTF status in Scotland, and the eradication of bovine TB across Great Britain.
Scope of the Consultation
Scottish Government are launching this consultation to gather views on specific proposals for TB diagnostic testing, cattle movements, isolation requirements and unclean cattle.
The following amendments are proposed:
Animal Health and Welfare is a devolved matter and the proposals included in this consultation apply to Scotland only.
Anyone is welcome to respond to this consultation. The Scottish Government would particularly like to hear from:
This consultation will help us to gauge attitudes towards these proposals and make informed decisions from the responses, but will also help us to account for any unanticipated impacts that these changes could have on those they will affect. We also would be interested to know if there are any other policy changes that there is an appetite for but we have not covered in our proposals.
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