We are now undertaking regular post movement testing for clients after the new rules came in in August 2023. All animals moving from higher incidence areas of England and from Wales into the annual surveillance areas of the Edge Area require post movement TB testing 60-120 days after their arrival. This affects farms in Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire but not Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. Post movement testing has been required in Bedfordshire for a few years.
It can be confusing to work out if an animal requires post movement TB testing. Generally, it affects animals coming from herds that are testing every 6 months. However, some herds in the High Risk Area (HRA) can be testing annually if they have not had a breakdown in a number of years. Animals from these herds would still require post movement testing. There is an online look up tool where you can check the CPH number of the herd and it will tell you the testing interval for that area. This can be found at on the APHA website at apha.defra.gov.uk/tb-test/index.asp. Excellent information on post movement TB testing rules is also available on the TB Hub. It is the keeper’s responsibility to organise and pay for the testing. If testing is not carried out movement restrictions will be applied to the herd until all cattle that should have been post-movement tested are tested with negative results. The test will be regarded as overdue, which may trigger reductions to any basic farm payments. APHA will be monitoring compliance and notifying anyone failing to carry out the required testing.
