Time is running out on TB target

SEVEN years is a very long time in politics. In 2018, Michael Gove was Defra Secretary and he commissioned a review of Britain's bovine TB (bTB) strategy.

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This is the disease that has brought severe distress and dread to farmers, caused the deaths of thousands of cattle, hindered trade, cost the taxpayer millions and engendered a fiercely polarised debate that has, in the view of the report authors, seriously hampered progress in controlling the problem. Now, an updated report, chaired by Prof Sir Charles Godfray, which arrived just before yet another change in Defra personnel (Agromenes, September 17), warns that time is running out in the drive to meet the target of eradicating the disease in England by 2038 and that a change of mindset is needed.