More Work on TB Strategy
In October last year, the Animal Health Board (AHB) presented a proposal for a major increase in funding for a 10-year strategy aimed at achieving official freedom from Bovine TB. Government has decided that MAF, Treasury and the AHB should more closely examine this proposal in terms of:
- the amount of funding being requested by the AHB (in other words, its a question of how much the Crown will increase its funding); and
- whether the achievement of the Bovine TB freedom objective within 10 years was realistic (for example, a 12- or 15-year strategy may be equally acceptable).
The current Bovine TB strategy expires on 1 July 2001, but existing legal arrangements could be extended - provided a revised strategy was notified before that date.
The budget for Bovine TB vector control for the current year is $38.4 million, of which the Crown contributes $20.3 million. The balance comes from farmers and regional authorities. A further $17.7 million a year is spent on Bovine TB disease control, funded by farmers.
The Animal Health Board has proposed an increase in total programme expenditure to $85 million per year, with a Crown contribution of $39.7 million (figures GST excl).
Contact for Enquiries
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: 0800 00 83 33
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
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