UK begins bovine TB vaccinated cattle export trade talks
Discussions include update on WOAH cattle trading standards
19 September 2023
1 minute read
By: The UK Government has started discussions to develop a pathway for approving the export of cattle vaccinated with the bovine TB vaccine, once it is rolled out, according to a newsletter from Ruminant Health & Welfare.
The discussions also include updates to World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) standards for trading cattle will be required for the CattleBCG vaccine, which is expected to be deployed in 2025, and the accompanying Detect Infected among Vaccinated Animals (DIVA) skin test, which distinguishes between vaccinated cattle and TB-positive cattle.
The standards will need to be reviewed for the export of live vaccinated animals and their genetic material, however no additional controls will be needed for fresh meat or meat products.
“The government is already engaging with WOAH, the EU Commission, and international trading partners, to mitigate the likelihood of any trade impacts from the future deployment of the CattleBCG and DIVA skin test," q Defra spokesperson told Farmers Weekly.
The spokesperson said the government was working at pace, but it will only deploy the vaccine when all the right steps are in place to enable the vaccination programme to be a success.
