The Tuberculosis in Animals (England) (Amendment) Order 2025

Published: Fri 27th Jun 25

The Tuberculosis in Animals (England) (Amendment) Order 2025 amends the 2021 Order to clarify the power to slaughter animals infected with tuberculosis, remove outdated references to the European Union Common Agricultural Policy, and broaden the Secretary of State's authority to publish information aiding tuberculosis prevention.

The amendment also adds several parishes to Schedule 3, expanding the specified areas covered under the order.

It comes into force on July 15, 2025 and covers England and Wales.

Arguments For

Improved clarity and efficiency in tuberculosis control: The amendments clarify the legal basis for culling animals with tuberculosis, streamlining the process and improving efficiency.
Enhanced disease prevention: By widening the scope of information publication, the order aims to empower more people to prevent the spread of tuberculosis, leading to improved disease control in animals.
Alignment with current administrative needs: Updating the specified areas and removing outdated references enhances the order's relevance and applicability to current administrative practices.
Legal basis in Animal Health Act 1981: The order is supported by the powers conferred by specific sections of the Animal Health Act 1981, providing a solid legal foundation for its amendments.

Arguments Against

Potential for unintended consequences: Changes to the slaughter power and information publication could have unintended consequences that affect farmers or animal welfare.
Implementation challenges: Updating administrative processes and communicating changes to stakeholders could present implementation challenges.
Cost considerations: The culling of animals and the associated compensation could result in significant financial costs.
Alternative approaches: Alternative approaches, such as focusing on preventive measures or improved diagnostic tools, might be explored before resorting to culling.

Citation, commencement and extent (1) This Order may be cited as the Tuberculosis in Animals (England) (Amendment) Order 2025 and comes into force on 15th July 2025. (2) This Order extends to England and Wales.

This section provides the formal citation for the order, stating that it's called the Tuberculosis in Animals (England) (Amendment) Order 2025, and it takes effect on July 15, 2025.

It also states that the order applies to England and Wales.

Amendment to the Tuberculosis (Non-bovine animals) Slaughter and Compensation (England) Order 2017 (1) The Tuberculosis (Non-bovine animals) Slaughter and Compensation (England) Order 2017 is amended as follows. (2) Omit article 3 (power to slaughter animals affected with tuberculosis).

This section amends the 2017 Order.

Specifically, it removes article 3, which previously covered the power to cull animals with tuberculosis.

This power will be reassigned under a different section and order.

Amendment to the Tuberculosis in Animals (England) Order 2021 (1) The Tuberculosis in Animals (England) Order 2021 is amended as follows. (2) In article 2 (interpretation), in paragraph (1), in the definition of “specified area” after the words “civil parishes” insert “and non-civil parish areas”. (3) In article 4 (extension of definition of “disease”)— (a) in the heading, at the end insert “and power to slaughter animals affected with tuberculosis”; (b) the text of the article becomes paragraph (1); (c) after paragraph (1) insert— “(2) Section 32 of the Act (power to slaughter animals) applies to that disease.” (4) In article 8 (tuberculosis testing), in the words before paragraph (5)(a), omit the words from “or any administrative” to “common agricultural policy,”. (5) In article 23 (publication of information)— (a) for paragraph (1) substitute— “(1) For the purpose of helping other persons protect against the spread of tuberculosis, the Secretary of State may publish information regarding a bovine herd or bovine animal.”; (b) omit paragraph (2); (c) in paragraph (3) omit “or (2)”. (6) In Schedule 3— (a) in the unnumbered paragraph before Part 1, for the words “and civil parishes” substitute “civil parishes and non-civil parish areas”; (b) in Part 2— (i) in the heading “Civil parishes in the county of Berkshire”, after “Civil parishes” insert “and non-civil parish areas”; (ii) in the heading “Civil parishes in the county of Derbyshire”, after “Civil parishes” insert “and non-civil parish areas”; (iii) after the heading “Civil parishes and non-civil parish areas in the county of Derbyshire” (as amended by paragraph (ii)), insert— “Hodthorpe and Belph Langwith”; (iv) in the heading “Civil parishes in the county of Hampshire”, after “Civil parishes” insert “and non-civil parish areas”; (v) after the heading “Civil parishes and non-civil parish areas in the county of Hampshire” (as amended by paragraph (iv)), insert— “Allbrook Beech Bishopstoke Boyatt Wood Chandlers Ford Church Crookham Elvetham Heath Ewshott Godshill Newlands Sheet Valley Park Whiteley”.

This section makes several amendments to the 2021 Order.

It adds 'non-civil parish areas' to the definition of 'specified area', reassigns the power to slaughter animals affected with tuberculosis to section 32 of the Animal Health Act 1981 removing a reference to the common agricultural policy, broadens the scope of the Secretary of State's power to publish information relating to tuberculosis prevention, and adds specific parishes in Berkshire, Derbyshire, and Hampshire to Schedule 3.

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