UK Chief Veterinary Officer’s advice on early termination of 2021 and 2022 badger disease control areas
Updated 11 April 2024
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In May 2021, the government issued a response to the bovine tuberculosis (bTB) consultation. This set out provision for the UK Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) to recommend early termination for intensive cull licences issued in 2021 and 2022 after 2 or 3 years.
Cull Areas 55 to 61 inclusive began culling in September 2021, and all of them completed their third cull in late 2023. These areas are therefore eligible for consideration of early termination.
Cull areas 62 to 72 inclusive began culling in September 2022, and all of them completed their second cull in late 2023. These areas are therefore also eligible for consideration of early termination.
On review of the available data for these 18 areas, my view is that early termination would be sub-optimal for disease control and therefore my advice is to not terminate any of those culls this year.
Christine Middlemiss CB, UK Chief Veterinary Officer
January 2024