Launch of Bovine Tuberculosis Partnership

Written by Lydia Turner

Launched this month (February 2021) by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Bovine Tuberculosis Partnership will be a driving force for further progress with disease eradication.

The partnership is made up of members from across the NFU, British Veterinary Association, British Cattle Veterinary Association, DEFRA, Animal and Plant Health Agency and Natural England.

It’s responsibilities to:

• contribute to setting strategic direction of the bovine TB disease eradication programme, helping to identify priorities, and address specific opportunities, risks and issues, as an integral part of the bovine TB Programme’s governance
• help set standards, monitor progress, and identify where new approaches might be needed
• co-design potential new policies and communications
• identify new evidence sources/requirements and ideas and captures wider views to inform discussion as needed
• engage widely to advocate agreed bovine TB policy to a range of stakeholders
• encourage the formation of and work closely with local groups and creates opportunities for stakeholders/local groups to work together. Regularly reviews how to improve local engagement and maximise the value of local groups
• engage with developments in wider domestic agriculture policy (aware of and linked to sector wide initiatives that impact bovine TB control) – helping to build understanding of the potential implications for future disease control and helping to influence the design of future policy to benefit the goals of the bovine TB Strategy
• provide expert advice and helps consider the practicalities of implementation in the policy making process

Partnership members have taken to Twitter to share thoughts:

Delighted to be part of this group at what appears to be a pivotal stage in TB policy development, let’s hope we are successful in helping the industry achieve the governments stated objective of TB eradication https://t.co/2kiBBPdYwC

— Phil Latham (@PhilLatham) February 11, 2021

A strength of @DefraGovUK ‘s new Bovine TB Partnership is mix of strong farming representation with vets, allied with strong scientific members @RowlandKao @GarethEnticott @Andy_1Robertson @RosieWoodroffe . Privilege to be part of this – challenge now is partnership for #tbfree https://t.co/Nel0S1VDAK

— James Wood (@jw132) February 11, 2021

Pleased to be a part of this group that rightly includes a broad spectrum of both opinion and expertise https://t.co/USCUAEytvN

— Rowland Raymond Kao (@RowlandKao) February 11, 2021

The New TB Partnership announced- I am pleased to be part of the future of TB strategy along with other key figures in the group https://t.co/tCWzwGboZ1

— sarah tomlinson (@sjtomo157) February 11, 2021

The Partnership will normally meet bi-monthly and will be reviewed after three years.

To find out more click here.

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