Contact/Cyswllt:  Sian Cliff
02920 898342 / sian.cliff@wales.gov.uk

Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates welcomes the announcement today by the Minister for Rural Affairs that Wales will be adopting a holistic strategy to tackle Bovine TB.

The plans announced today by Elin Jones AM include a range of measures, such as annual TB testing for all cattle in Wales, the quick removal of infected cattle from farms and the creation of a single pilot area to remove badgers.

Commenting on Elin Jones’ positive statement following the Rural Development Committee’s recommendations, Mick Bates AM:

“The time is right to take action on TB and I applaud the Minister for making this bold move towards controlling and then eradicating TB across the country.”

In 2007 around 8,000 animals were slaughtered in Wales due the disease and over 2,000 herds were subject to movement restrictions.

“Bovine TB is a major threat to farmers and animal keepers across Wales. Thousands of cattle are killed each year – without controlling this highly infectious disease in wildlife this will continue” adds Mick.

“Over the last 10 years the farming industry has been rocked by animal disease. It has been estimated that in 2007 over £14m was spent on compensation for TB which is a huge waste of our resources.

“All stakeholders have a key part to play and I hope that my colleagues in Westminster will support similar measures in England – this disease does not respect borders, so it is vital that we have the same control measures on each side of the border if we are to eradicate TB across the UK.”



End / Diwedd