Wales’ Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones has today laid the Badger (Control Area) (Wales) Order 2011, which authorises the destruction of badgers in a specific area of West Wales known as the Intensive Action Area as part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s programme to eradicate bovine TB.
The Minister has also announced new controls to deal with TB in non-bovines, which include camelids, goats and deer.
Commenting on the development, Harvey Locke, President of the British Veterinary Association, said:
"The BVA believes that failure to tackle wildlife sources of TB infection has prolonged the presence of the disease in all affected species populations.
"We therefore welcome today’s announcement by the Welsh Assembly Government and hope that it will progress without further delay.
"We hope this action in Wales will focus attention on what is happening in England as we await Defra’s response to its consultation on tackling TB.
"While the delay in the announcement is frustrating for all those vets and farmers dealing with the disease, we understand that it is vital that the Government gets it right and bases any decision on sound science."
