Controlled Badger Cull to Go Ahead in England

UK - The Badger Trust has lost a court case appealing the English government's proposed badger cull.
calendar icon 11 September 2012
clock icon 2 minute read

In today's ruling, the Court of Appeal has declared the government's plans to cull badgers in controlled zones in England legal.

It is hoped that targeted culls in the Somerset and Gloucestershire will help tackle bovine tuberculosis (TB).

Lord Justice Laws, Lord Justice Rimer and Lord Justice Sullivan unanimously rejected the appeal.

NFU head of food and farming Phil Hudson said: “We are reassured to hear today’s outcome. Given the public interest in this issue, we always knew that there would be a legal challenge to the policy. We are pleased that the judges upheld the High Court’s decision. “This news is critically important to cattle farmers and their families who are blighted with this disease on their farms.

"We will now work to help those delivering the two pilot culls to ensure they that they are safe, effective and humane.”

The Farmers’ Union of Wales said the decision highlighted the extreme contrast between the Welsh Government’s failure to grasp the nettle and the Westminster government’s decision to stand by a robust decision in order to save the lives of cattle.

FUW’s TB spokesman, Carmarthen dairy farmer Brian Walters said the decision had opened the door to a number of options for Welsh farmers regarding which the FUW had already sought legal advice.

“If English farmers can be granted licences to reduce the horrifying impact of this disease on their herds, then Welsh farmers should have the same rights, and we will now be consulting with our members to ask how they wish us to progress.”

The Badger Trust has said it will continue to fight the against the cull.

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