§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the level of testing for bovine TB and associated slaughtering in the national herd since 20 February. [160208]
§ Mr. Nick Brown[holding answer 3 May 2001]: Almost all routine testing for TB in cattle has been put on hold, with state veterinary service (SVS) resources diverted to deal with the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. In most areas, reactor cattle disclosed by testing carried out before the imposition of FMD movement restrictions are being held on farms. Decisions on re-tests on inconclusive reactors and short interval tests are being made on a case-by-case basis according to the FMD situation in different divisions of the SVS.