THE Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) has urged Defra to reverse its decision to end the current partial de-restriction of TB breakdown holdings.

Ministers recently announced that from October 1 movement restrictions will apply to all cattle on a farm until all the animals have achieved official TB free status.

But Stephen Wyrill, national TFA chairman, said there was no justification for such a move and warned it could lead to farm bankruptcies.

Currently, beef and dairy producers – in consultation with local Animal Health officials – can get a partial de-restriction for their holding for animals which test negatively for TB.

Mr Wyrill, who farms near Catterick, said: “This flexibility has meant the difference between survival and bankruptcy for many livestock farmers and Defra’s plans to remove this flexibility in the autumn is causing great anxiety, stress and concern amongst TFA members.”

He said the TFA fully supports measures to eradicate bovine TB through appropriate measures for controlling its spread between livestock and through the control of TB infected wildlife.

“However, such measures must respect the need for trade to continue within an appropriate risk based system,” said Mr Wyrill.

“There is no justification for a complete ban on partial de-restriction. Such a move flies in the face of the Government’s wider agenda of better regulation based on a proper analysis of risk.”

He said a complete ban would render many farm businesses unviable.

“The Government’s decision is not based on sound science. Currently, animal health staff work with producers locally to determine whether or not partial de-restriction is appropriate and reasonable..

“It is at the local level, where decisions can be made on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration all relevant factors.

“I am asking that Defra reverses its decision on a complete ban on partial de-restriction and instead works with the industry to ensure that the framework within which local animal health officials assess applications for de-restriction is as robust as necessary to minimise the risk of disease spread.”

However, Defra has said there are a number of options available to farmers in dealing with the changes. It suggested farmers with separate cattle management groups register some cattle under a separate county parish holding so that if TB is found in just one group the number of cattle subject to movement restrictions could be limited.