NFU Scotland is urging the Scottish Executive to maintain its resolve in tackling the threat of TB in light of the disappointing recommendations from a Defra working group.

The Executive has already announced proposals for compulsory pre-movement and post-movement TB testing of cattle that come to Scotland from high risk areas of England and Wales. NFUS has supported this approach and is participating in the working group which is currently considering how this would work in practice.

The Defra working group looking at pre-movement testing has today published its report setting out the way ahead in high risk areas of England and Wales. Of primary concern is the recommendation to only test cattle over 15 months of age. NFUS believes that to protect and strengthen the health of Scotland's cattle and wildlife populations, the Executive should legislate to ensure all cattle coming in to Scotland from high risk areas are pre- and post-movement tested, irrespective of age.

Chairman of the NFUS Livestock Committee, Nigel Miller, said:

"We fully understand the abject frustration that those producers trying to farm in high risk areas must be suffering as a result of Defra's inability to deliver a meaningful policy on TB control and eradication. However, the truth is that in disease control terms any policy that only requires cattle over 15 months to be pre-movement tested would do a genuine disservice to all low risk areas. This is not only an issue for Scotland but should be an issue for other low risk areas in England and Wales, whose status could be under threat.

"In Scotland, we will continue to lobby the Executive to pursue legislation that ensures that all cattle originating in a high risk area, irrespective of age, are subject to pre- and post movement testing. Such legislation must also cater for the potential loopholes of cattle moving from high risk areas in England and Wales to low risk areas in those countries before making their way to Scotland.

"Scotland's TB priority is prevention not cure. It is in the industry's and taxpayers' interest to ensure that the incidence of TB, either in cattle or wildlife, remains extremely low. I believe that we would be playing with fire by allowing any cattle from high risk areas to enter Scotland, through whatever route, without being pre-movement tested."