TB Testing Work Up for Tender
UK – The organisations responsible for bovine tuberculosis (TB) tests are set to change next year after interested parties have completed a tendering process.
11 November 2014
1 minute read
As of April 2015, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) TB testing will be managed by regional ‘delivery partners’, testing one or more geographical regions.
APHA veterinary director Simon Hall said: “Testing will always be performed by a fully qualified vet but the new arrangements will help ensure that on-farm testing is as effective as it is possible to be in detecting disease, and that the taxpayer is only being asked to pay what is necessary for the testing.”
APHA states that it will remain the responsibility of animal keepers to arrange testing, which will be done by liaising with the delivery partner for their region.
This will bring an end to veterinary testing currently done through 650 private businesses by APHA trained, appointed and paid veterinarians, of which there are over 2,000 individual vets.
Livestock keepers will be able to express a preference for a particular subcontractor, to be honoured ‘where possible’, with private payment possible for keepers desiring the services of other veterinarians.
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