Scottish Government to introduce new measures to protect TB-free status

DARD wishes to advise exporters of forthcoming changes to the procedures for cattle moving from here to Scotland.

The Scottish Government has developed an Implementation Plan to help maintain their status as an Officially Tuberculosis Free region. As part of that Implementation Plan they will introduce a number of measures from 28 February 2010 which will impact on people exporting cattle to Scotland.

With effect from 28 February 2010 the Scottish Government will require importers to pay for the post-import TB test for cattle from here. This charge will bring imports from here in line with imports from high incidence regions of England and Wales.

The Scottish Government also intend to phase out isolation units for store cattle exported from the island of Ireland by the end of 2010. These isolation units currently provide the facility to exempt store cattle from post import TB tests. The six units currently taking animals from here will not have their licences renewed. When these units close all breeding and production animals, moving from here to Scotland, will have to go into a herd and be post imported tested at the appropriate time if they are still in a herd.

The import licence for movement of cattle to Scotland is currently being amended accordingly.

Notes to editors:

1. On 8 September 2009, Scotland became officially tuberculosis free (OTF) as recognised by Commission Decision 2009/761. OTF status is recognition of the low and stable incidence of Tuberculosis (TB) in Scottish Herds and the high standards of animal welfare.

2. In order to maintain this status, it was necessary to put in place enhanced rules for movements into Scotland, these have now been agreed and are set out in the Scottish Governments OTF Implementation Plan, which was notified to the Commission on the 26 November 2009.

3. Full details of the Implementation plan can be found on the Scottish Government website.

4. All media enquiries should be directed to the DARD Press Office on 028 9052 4619. Out of office hours please contact the duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.