Brucellosis pre-movement testing is to end from next week, it has been announced.
The Ulster Farmers’ Union welcomed DARD’s announcement, arising from Northern Ireland’s attainment of Officially Brucellosis Free(OBF) status from the beginning of the month.
UFU deputy president, Ivor Ferguson said: “This is the start of a new landscape for Northern Ireland’s farmers who for over 40 years have complied with strict brucellosis controls.” It is estimated that the current brucellosis eradication programme costs the taxpayer around £8 million per year with a further cost in excess of £7 million per year to farmers in compliance costs.
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