Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has said he is ‘acutely aware that the increasing level of bTB in Northern Ireland is challenging and unacceptable’.

In response to an Assembly Question by TUV MLA Timothy Gaston – who asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to “detail the steps his department is taking to reduce the incidence of bovine TB in Northern Ireland, including (i) the role of wildlife intervention; (ii) testing regimes; and (iii) support for affected farmers – Mr Muir said that ‘on coming into post in early 2024, I asked the Chief Veterinary Officer to undertake a review of bTB”.

“His report was published in November 2024 and I immediately accepted his recommendation to establish a new stakeholder body, the TB Parnership Steering Group (TBPSG),” adds the Assembly Question.

“The TBPSG’s Bovine Tuberculosis in Northern Ireland: Blueprint for Eradication sets out clear targets for the eradication of bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) in Northern Ireland (NI).

“Further information can be found here: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/tb-partnership-steering-group-bovine-tb-northern-ireland-blueprint-eradication”

He adds that “the aim of the TBPSG, working with DAERA, is to reduce bTB herd incidence by 2% by 2030, placing NI on a pathway to halve current bTB levels by 2040 and achieve eradication by 2050”.

The AQ adds that the “Blueprint is based on three pillars: people; cattle; and wildlife”.

“By making a collective effort in those three areas, we can move forward and reduce TB in Northern Ireland.

“New departmental structures are now in place to oversee the implementation of the Blueprint with initial work focused on increasing the use of interferon gamma testing; the provision of on farm biosecurity advice; improved TB testing; preparing a new consultation on potential wildlife intervention options; and an innovative new regionalisation initiative in partnership with the Republic.”

Mr Muir added that “we must proceed collectively, both government and stakeholders, in a way that is evidence based and enables us to deliver for the farming community around those three pillars”.

He said that means delivering on wildlife, but also on people and cattle.

“I have made this a key priority for the department as well as the DAERA support for farmers by way of compensation for animals removed and increased supplementary testing to allow the removal of diseased animals earlier to reduce disease spread,” the AQ added.