Export instructions
The Notifiable Disease Occurrence List (ET171) was updated on 12 December 2019 to reflect recent events and the small animal export instructions were updated in February 2020 to remove the Brexit pet travel documents.
Read the updated information on the APHA Vet Gateway.
TB passive surveillance instructions
The passive surveillance instructions were reviewed and updated in January 2020. This includes updates to the general information about passive surveillance, clinical cases, slaughterhouse cases and knackers’ yards, as well as information about other mycobacteria.
Tuberculin testing revalidation process instructions
There have been changes made to the tuberculin testing revalidation process and OVs are being urged to familiarise themselves with the new process.
Relaunch of the TB hub website
The TB hub website has been refreshed and APHA would like to encourage OVs to become familiar with the relaunched website and promote this joint industry-government initiative to farmers.
Since it was launched in 2015, it has become the “go-to” place for British beef and dairy farmers to find practical advice and information on dealing with bovine TB on their farms. It covers a broad range of subjects, from biosecurity measures and TB testing, to understanding cattle trading rules. Alongside guidance on minimising the impact of TB on farms, there is also information on what farmers can do to reduce the risk of bovine TB getting into their herds, both from cattle movements and wildlife.
There are two key groups which the redesigned TB hub particularly aims to help: those who are currently dealing with a TB breakdown and those who want to protect their herd from TB.
OV briefings
An update regarding equine movements as we now enter a transition period
The government’s Withdrawal Agreement Bill has now been agreed by Parliament and received Royal Assent, so we will now enter a transition period until 31 December 2020.
During the transition period, you should continue to move equines in the same way as you do now (using all the current processes and systems in place) until the end of 2020 – there are no immediate changes to the process.
The arrangements after that date will depend on the outcome of our negotiations with the EU which will take place in the interim.
All of the relevant guidance will be available online, and the government will continue to engage with the public at regular intervals to keep you informed of what they need to know and the actions that they will need to take.
An update regarding pet travel as we now enter a transition period
The government’s Withdrawal Agreement Bill has now been agreed by Parliament and received Royal Assent, so the UK will leave the European Union on 31 January 2020 and then enter a transition period until 31 December 2020.
During the transition period, pet owners will be able to continue to travel with their pets in the same way as they do now (using a pet passport) until the end of 2020, as there are no immediate changes to the process.
Pet owners that don’t have a current UK-issued EU pet passport will need to speak to their vet.
More information is available online and the government will continue to engage with the public at regular intervals to keep you informed of what they need to know and the actions that they will need to take.
