Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 23rd July 2014
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Build on TB eradication plan, urges CLA
cows
CLA calls for the government to continue the badger culls and work towards lifting farm movement restrictions.
Land owner association releases manifesto for the next government

A membership organisation for land owners has called on candidates in next year's general election to build upon the 25-year bovine TB (bTB) eradication plan and continue with badger culling as part of a wider strategy.

Members of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) own and manage half of the rural land in England and Wales.

The organisation has released a manifesto for the 2015 elections – titled “Unlock the Countryside's Potential” – setting out recommendations to election candidates.

It states that while the government's bTB strategy is “challenging” it offers a “realistic and holistic long-term view” to rid England of the disease.

Cattle slaughters due to bTB totalled 38,000 in 2011. The disease is thought to have cost the British taxpayer around £500million over the past decade – a figure estimated to rise to £1billion over the next 10 years.

The CLA said it welcomed last year's badger culls as part of a “wider science-based strategy” and calls on the next government to continue with trial culls.

After Liz Truss recently replaced Owen Paterson as environment secretary, she announced that the badger culls would continue in Gloucestershire and Somerset. It is reported that she also recently confirmed Natural England will monitor the culls.

Last year's pilot culls were found to be ineffective and inhumane by an independent expert panel (IEP) and have long been controversial. The Badger Trust was recently granted a judicial review of the legality of conducting the culls without an IEP to monitor them.  

In its manifesto, the CLA says it supports the continuation of the culls as part of a wider strategy “based on the latest scientific evidence.”

It also calls on the next government to engage with stakeholders to work towards the removal of farm movement restrictions, while ensuring traceability and food safety.

Read the CLA's full manifesto: www.cla.org.uk

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS annual renewal fee for vets due

RCVS' annual renewal fee for veterinary surgeons is now due. Vets must pay their renewal fee before Wednesday, 1 April 2026.

This year's standard annual fee has increased to 431 from last year's 418. This is an approximately three per cent increase, as approved by RCVS Council and the Privy Council.

Tshidi Gardner, RCVS treasurer, said: "The small fee increase will be used to help deliver both our everyday activities and our new ambitious Strategic Plan, which includes aims such as achieving new legislation, reviewing the Codes of Professional Conduct and supporting guidance, and continuing to support the professions through activities such as the Mind Matters Initiative, RCVS Academy and career development."

A full breakdown of the new fees is on the RCVS website. Information about tax relief is available on the UK government website.