Written question asked by Anthony Steen (Conservative) on Friday, 27 October 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 1 November 2006. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Monday, 6 November 2006 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Pre-movement Cattle Testing

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the financial implications for cattle farmers of the introduction of pre-movement testing for cattle over 15 months from 27 March 2006; and what financial implications he anticipates from the extension of pre-movement testing to cattle under 15 months from 1 March 2007.

Answer: [holding answer 1 November 2006]: Pre-movement tests are a private transaction between a farmer and their local veterinary inspector. Government continue to fund the provision of tuberculin and all routine TB surveillance tests, at a cost of approximately £40 million per year. These routine tests qualify as pre-movement tests if the animals are moved within 60 days of testing.Cost sharing on animal health issues between Government and industry is a key part of our animal health and welfare strategy. As there are benefits to herd owners from buying or selling cattle with additional disease assurance, herd owners are now expected to share the costs of tests which are outside the routine surveillance programme.The financial implications of pre-movement testing were considered in a regulatory impact assessment which is available on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/pdf/prmt-regulatory.pdf. This assessment is being kept under review.

Secondary information