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National Beef Association Scotland mounts a
Petition to the European Commission to change its rules over Bluetongue vaccination
in Bluetongue-free Scotland
James Irvine
Teviot Scientific, Cultybraggan Farm, Comrie, Perthshire
Filed 02 Apr 08
©www.land-care.org.uk
The threat of Bluetongue Disease (BT) reaching Scotland's livestock within the next few months is intensely worrying. Defra ordered 22.2 million doses of vaccine against Bluetongue virus serotype 8 on 20th December 2008 from Intervet. The first batch of the order is due to be delivered shortly.
So far Scotland has not ordered any, although the livestock industry is unanimous in its demand for the vaccine (as stated at the last stakeholders meeting with representatives of the Scottish Government at Pentland House).
The hold up in Scotland is in relation to the rules of the European Commission (EC) which forbid vaccination in a Bluetongue-free country or zone. Such a country either has to wait until infection arrives and has been officially confirmed, or declares itself to be a Protection Zone (PZ) even although it has not evidence of disease. The big snag of doing that is that, again according to EC diktat, free movement of livestock from any other PZ throughout the EU must be permitted. This, of course, would simply invite the BT virus to enter Scotland during the 6 weeks that it takes cattle to achieve full protection after vaccination.
These rules are clearly illogical and most damaging to the health of Scottish livestock.
For this reason,, the National Beef Association Scotland has initiated a Petition to the EC.
To view the Petition Click Here pdf
Please support the Petition, irrespective of whether you are a member of NBA Scotland or not. The Petition is open to all those who are concerned about Scotland's livestock.
©www.land-care.org.uk
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