The Tuberculosis (Scotland) Order 2023: business and regulatory impact assessment

Scottish Firms Impact Test

These legislative changes could potentially have an impact on international trade if they are not taken forward, however they are unlikely to have an impact on international investment.

The policy which is likely to have an effect on international trade is the measure to change the period that a pre-movement test remains valid, from the current 60 days to 30 days. This proposal is a result of changes brought in through the Animal Health Regulation which came in place on 21 April 2021. The accompanying Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/6882 Article 10 (1)(d)(ii) requires that the traded animals have been subjected to a test for infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex with negative results, during the last 30 days prior to departure, and would bring the requirements for cattle moving between domestic countries in line with export requirements.

WOAH recommends that for importation of bovids, they should ‘originate from a herd free from infection with M. tuberculosis complex and have been tested for infection with M. tuberculosis complex with negative results within 30 days prior to shipment’ and thus changing this period would align Scottish legislation with the international standard.

To remain with the status quo for this proposal would mean that Scotland would not align with the EU requirements or the international standard that is recommended by WOAH and this would have an impact on potential international trade for the cattle industry.

The majority of Scotland’s trade is with other parts of the United Kingdom, and although England and Wales have not taken this policy forward at present, Northern Ireland has taken this policy forward already as part of the Animal Health Regulation changes. Officially TB free status is unique to Scotland within the United Kingdom, and as such it is necessary to take steps which will keep disease out from neighbouring countries and also protect Scotland’s international reputation as a TB free country.