The government has published its review of the 25 Year Bovine TB (bTB) Strategy which was led by Sir Charles Godfray.
The report, which was commissioned by Environment Secretary Michael Gove in February 2018, aims to inform future strategies around the government’s goal of eradicating the disease by 2038. Its finding include:
- Industry must take greater responsibility for on-farm controls, biosecurity and safe trading practices to stop the disease spreading
- More can be done to help farmers make purchasing decisions reflecting the risks of cattle being infected
- Evidence shows that badgers do transmit bovine TB to cattle and contribute to the persistence of the disease
- Disease reduction would benefit from greater flexibility and agility in adapting bovine TB control measures as new research findings emerge
- A new independent body on disease control would be helpful to take over disease control operations from APHA, Natural England and local authorities.