Recently in TB Category

The annual meerting of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) is not normally the most thrilling prospect.

But believe it or not, I'm actually looking forward to this year's event in Cardiff which kicks off tomorrow.

And there could hardly be a more fitting venue.

With TB high on the agenda, there are few places better to facilitate a debate than in Wales where the Government is taking firm action to tackle the devastating disease.

CVOs from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland will join Wales' Chritianne Glossop for the debate and many vets travelling in from across the UK will envy their Welsh colleagues.

It's been said many times that vets feel helpless when it comes to tackling TB, and often find themselves on the periphery of the debate.

But the two day conference in Cardiff will give them a chance to have their voice heard and to influence the political debates surrounding the issue.

With Wales taking firm action and Scotland now officially declared TB free, there has never been such a difference in the approach to TB across the UK and its bound to make for some lively debate.

Add to that the issue of cost-sharing in England and its effect on the devolved administrations and it all points towards a rather entertaning event in prospect.

NOBODY could blame the Scottish Government and its farmers for wanting to protect its cattle's health and image from the horrors lurking south of the border.

Scotland feels the carefully-honed image of wholesome, Scottish beef is being tainted by a disease problem found almost exclusively in England and Wales.

It wants to protect the reputation of the product and its export markets while, at the same time, putting up barriers to disease coming form the south, by securing Officially Tuberculosis Free status.

It is, at face value, a logical step reflecting their exasperation at the failure of those down south, particularly in Westminster, to get to grips with the problem.

It is also entirely consistent with the desire of the Scottish Government to forge its own destiny, independently of London, wherever it can, across the political arena.

As one English industry leader said this week, 'we would probably do the same thing if we were in the same position'.

But it is clear the possible implications of the move, and the details of exactly what rules will accompany the new status, still need to be addressed very carefully.

The danger is that by loading extra requirements, in terms of TB testing, on to farmers in England and Wales, the flow of cattle northwards across the border will slow.

Who knows whether there will be a knock on effect for Scottish abattoirs, livestock markets and farmers on both sides of the border, as some are predicting?

Or whether, as NFU Scotland suggests, the trade will continue in the same volumes as today but in a different way?

It is therefore vital that in the months before the policy is likely to become reality, every effort is taken to evaluate the implications and that the industry seeks to mitigate any problems, because there is little value in solving one problem, only to create another.