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Bovine TB: Defra in 25-year bid to rid England of TB Bovine TB: Defra in 25-year bid to rid England of TB
(34 minutes later)
Ministers are to set out their long-term plans for fighting TB in cattle - aiming for England to become TB-free within 25 years.Ministers are to set out their long-term plans for fighting TB in cattle - aiming for England to become TB-free within 25 years.
Cases of bovine TB have risen in parts of England and Wales over the past two decades.Cases of bovine TB have risen in parts of England and Wales over the past two decades.
Environment secretary Owen Patterson called the issue "the most pressing animal health problem in the UK".Environment secretary Owen Patterson called the issue "the most pressing animal health problem in the UK".
The strategy includes a controversial cull of badgers, due to start this year in two areas of South West England.The strategy includes a controversial cull of badgers, due to start this year in two areas of South West England.
Launching the strategy, Mr Paterson said: "Bovine TB is the most pressing animal health problem in the UK. It threatens our cattle farmers' livelihoods and our farming industry as well as the health of wildlife and livestock.Launching the strategy, Mr Paterson said: "Bovine TB is the most pressing animal health problem in the UK. It threatens our cattle farmers' livelihoods and our farming industry as well as the health of wildlife and livestock.
"We must all work together to become TB-free within 25 years.""We must all work together to become TB-free within 25 years."
The government's policy to control bovine TB is a matter of much debate, because of its implications for the farming industry and because one option is to cull badgers. The strategy will be informed by the Natural Science Evidence Base for Control of Bovine TB study, released on Thursday by the Oxford Martin School at the University of Oxford.
Study co-author Charles Godfray said: "Agreeing on what the science says is important because it means everyone can discuss the topic based on a shared evidence base.
"The assumptions upon which policy is based, and the expectations about its results, must also be consistent with what the science tells us."
The government's policy to control bovine TB has to date been a matter of much debate, because of its implications for the farming industry and because one option is to cull badgers.
Badger culling has been authorised at two pilot sites in West Somerset and in and around West Gloucestershire.Badger culling has been authorised at two pilot sites in West Somerset and in and around West Gloucestershire.
Under the proposals, about 5,000 badgers will be culled by free shooting before the end of the year.Under the proposals, about 5,000 badgers will be culled by free shooting before the end of the year.
Ministers say the action is needed to help tackle the cattle disease, which has been steadily rising since the 1980s.Ministers say the action is needed to help tackle the cattle disease, which has been steadily rising since the 1980s.
Campaigners against the cull say it will have no impact on bovine TB, and could lead to local populations of badgers being wiped out.Campaigners against the cull say it will have no impact on bovine TB, and could lead to local populations of badgers being wiped out.
The new strategy sets out action in areas including:The new strategy sets out action in areas including:
It also focuses on the role of badger and cattle vaccines, and diagnostic tests that could one day offer new ways of tackling the disease.It also focuses on the role of badger and cattle vaccines, and diagnostic tests that could one day offer new ways of tackling the disease.
Vaccination of badgers is already underway in Wales as an alternative to culling. A similar vaccine for cattle exists, but its use is prohibited by EU regulations.Vaccination of badgers is already underway in Wales as an alternative to culling. A similar vaccine for cattle exists, but its use is prohibited by EU regulations.