From July 1st, the Labour Welsh Government is making life even harder for Welsh farmers. Bluetongue, a disease spread by midges, is hitting livestock hard across Europe. England is acting by creating a restricted zone, allowing animal movements around England without costly testing. However, thanks to the Welsh Labour Government, Wales will be operating under a different approach entirely. Welsh farmers moving animals from England into Wales will face pre-movement tests costing up to £70 per animal, which will have a huge blow on cross-border farms, livestock markets, and the rural economy.
The Welsh Government’s Bluetongue policy is confusing, costly, and completely out of touch. Infection is not spread from animal to animal and the infectious midges don’t stop at the border so common sense shouldn’t either. Welsh Labour need to scrap this damaging policy, listen to farmers for once, and align with England.
The Welsh Conservatives have created a petition to demand the Welsh Government align with England’s policy and support our farmers.
Commenting on the petition and the Welsh Government’s divergence from England, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Samuel Kurtz MS, said:
“Labour’s bluetongue policy is out of touch with farming reality and is neither proportionate nor pragmatic. It also seemingly fails to consider the disease is spread by midges rather than from livestock-to-livestock.
“The truth is the Welsh Government have been sat on their hands when they should have been actively encouraging livestock farmers to vaccinate. Had they done that, then these livestock movement restrictions wouldn’t have been necessary.
“The Welsh Conservatives are calling on the Welsh Government to urgently reconsider its stance and align with England’s restricted zone and actively increase livestock vaccinations.
“If farmers want their voices heard on this important issue, please sign the petition and urge the Labour Welsh Government to reconsider their damaging policy.”
ENDS
Note to editors:
A link to the Welsh Conservative Petition can be found here.
