WEST Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox has asked the Government to rethink the timing of a plan to require cattle in TB hot spots to be tested for the disease before they are moved. Mr Cox has told Defra minister Ben Bradshaw that consultation with farmers? representatives is vital and urged him to make himself available for a meeting with them as soon as possible. Mr Cox said: ?I have been receiving a continuous stream of anxious communications from farmers and the managers of the livestock markets about the manner and timing of the implementation of pre-movement testing. ?The spring sales, a particularly busy time of year, are coming up and swift action from the Government is required to avoid disruption and chaos. ?Vets are already at full stretch in carrying out routine testing, and farmers in Torridge and West Devon are experiencing difficulty in obtaining a vet to perform the tests. With the advent of pre-movement testing, this problem will become acute. ?The effect on livestock markets is likely to be severe and to damage the one remaining avenue open to farmers that provides them with an alternative to selling to large slaughterhouses increases the stranglehold of supermarkets.? Mr Cox said farmers recognised the need for pre-movement testing, but maintained it should only be implemented as part of an overall package which would include wildlife control. He said they had also asked the Government to introduce a gradual transfer of costs from Government to industry, in order to allow farmers time to adapt their businesses. ?However, under Government plans, the full cost of pre-movement testing will be borne by farmers,? claimed Mr Cox.
