Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has launched a consultation on a proposal to introduce compulsory testing of bovines for Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD).
Since January 2013 a voluntary BVD testing programme, initiated by Animal Health & Welfare NI (AHWNI) has been in place. In a further drive to help eradicate this disease some key industry stakeholders are seeking the introduction of legislation to make the current voluntary BVD programme compulsory.
Before considering whether legislation is introduced to make the current programme compulsory DARD intend to hold a number of stakeholder events across NI, during the consultation period, to obtain the views of all parts of the farming industry.
The consultation documents are available on the DARD website http://www.dardni.gov.uk under active consultations.