Tuberculosis (Scotland) Amendment Order 2022: business and regulatory impact assessment

Summary and recommendation

Scotland was recognised as being officially TB free (OTF) by the European Commission in September 2009. This status is a unique position within Great Britain and recognises the low and stable incidence of TB and the high standards of animal welfare achieved in Scottish herds.

Defra and the Welsh Government have both recently introduced substantial changes to their respective TB Programmes. In also reviewing and updating our TB legislation, this will ensure that our policies continue to be fit for purpose, incentivise compliance and best practice, and ensure these policies are financially sustainable in the future. This will occur between this amendment, and the full consolidation and amendments which will take place in 2023.

Maintaining Scotland's OTF status and reputation for high quality produce is crucial to the continuing success of the Scottish cattle industry. For this reason the recommended option is:

Option 2 – Introduce changes to TB controls - amend the Tuberculosis (Scotland) Order 2007

Responses to the consultation provided useful feedback on the proposals and gave a clear indication that there is support among the various respondent groups for the changes proposed and the importance attached to maintaining the OTF status by the Scottish cattle industry. That is why at this stage a change will be made to require permission for samples taken with the intention of applying a diagnostic test for TB, followed by a number of further amendments and a consolidation in 2023. It was assessed that this amendment is a priority which is why this is being taken forward at this time, with further policy changes in 2023. The further changes will include a consolidation of the current legislation, and this will require more time to allow APHA to make the necessary changes to documentation, and for clear communications to be distributed to cattle keepers, which is why these changes are being delayed until next year.