THE Government is proposing to introduce compulsory testing of all cattle entering the North and East of England in its fight against bovine TB.

It is one of a series of new measures it will consult on as part of its 25 year plan to eradicate the disease which costs taxpayers £100m a year.

Other consultations include changing the criteria for future badger control licences, such as reducing the minimum area for a licence, and on controlling TB in non-bovine animals such as pigs, goats, and deer.

George Eustice, Farming Minister, said: "England has the highest incidence of TB in Europe and that is why we are taking strong action to deliver our 25-year strategy to eradicate the disease and protect the future of our dairy and beef industries.

"This includes strengthening cattle testing and movement controls, vaccinating badgers in the buffer zone around high-risk areas, and culling badgers where the disease is rife."

Chief Vet Nigel Gibbens said: "These proposals to further strengthen testing in the low risk areas will provide additional protection to farmers in those areas, helping them to stay disease free."

Natural England has authorised targeted badger culls in Gloucestershire, Somerset and Dorset this year.

Meurig Raymond, NFU president, said more than 32,800 cattle were slaughtered because of bovine TB last year and more than 4,700 herds that had been clear of it were affected.

On the proposed compulsory testing of cattle entering the low risk North and East of England, he said: "The launch of the cattle movement control consultation will be welcomed by farmers in these areas who have been frustrated by the lack of progress on this. We will consult fully with all our members about this before submitting our response.

"Badger culling is an essential part of the Government’s 25-year strategy in areas where bovine TB is rife. While we are pleased that culling has been extended beyond Somerset and Gloucestershire we are very disappointed that more areas will not benefit from it this year. This is much slower progress than we wanted to see."

John Blackwell, British Veterinary Association (BVA) president and cattle vet, said: "We welcome any proposals to extend and strengthen the tools we use to tackle bovine TB, such as improved surveillance and further cattle controls to halt the spread of TB northwards and eastwards."