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Welsh minister clamps down on late TB tests
Image cows
New penalties for farmers who are late getting their cattle tested

As part of the fight against bovine TB in Wales, minister for natural resources Alun Davies has tightened up on farmers who are late getting their cattle TB tested.

Cattle farmers in Wales are required to get their cattle tested for TB every 12 months, as part of the country's eradication programme.

In addition to this, Mr Davies has introduced penalties of 1 per cent of the common agricultural payments (CAP) for cattle keepers who are between one day and three months late for their test.

According to an announcement by the Welsh government, this penalty is in addition to those for farmers who are found to be between three and 12 months late for their TB test at cross-compliance inspection. The penalty for this is 3 per cent of their CAP, increasing to 5 per cent of their payment if they are more than 12 months late.

Commenting, Alun Davies said: "We are committed to ridding Wales of bovine TB and an important element of our eradication programme is identifying the disease quickly through regular testing.

"The vast majority of farmers in Wales already comply with annual TB testing and arrange their tests in good time. However, a small minority do not and this undermines our eradication programme and increases the risk of TB.
"That is why I have introduced this additional penalty that applies to all late TB tests from 1 January 2014."

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

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News Shorts
New form for online veterinary medicines retailers

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has produced a new online form for retailers wishing to sell veterinary medicines on the internet.

The form replace the previous Word version and is part of the VMD's ongoing commitment to digitise its processes. Anyone retailing prescription medicines online, including POM-V, POM-VPS and NFA-VPS categories, is lawfully required to register with the VMD before trading.

The change only applies to new applicants. Retailers already listed on the VMD's Register of Online Retailers or registered under the Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme (AIRS) do not need to do anything.