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Written question asked by Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 8 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 11 June 2026 (named day). It was answered by Angela Eagle (Labour) on Thursday, 11 June 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Testing

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to expand circumstances in which private veterinary surgeons are permitted to use more sensitive bovine tuberculosis testing technologies in commercial settings.

Answer

Statutory tuberculin skin testing (SICCT) and interferon-gamma blood testing (IFNy) of cattle herds will remain the foundation of bovine tuberculosis (TB) control and will continue to be required. The recently published co-designed bovine TB Control Strategy for England also proposes facilitating greater access to privately-funded ancillary bovine TB testing alongside this, to support earlier detection of infected cattle and disease management.

Government will now consider the recommendations in the new bovine TB strategy, including on testing.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
7688
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Testing Bovine tuberculosis
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk