To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what additional legislation needs to be introduced to fully implement the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Strategy for Northern Ireland.

The new Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Strategy for Northern Ireland (“the Strategy”) contains 21 actions across six thematic areas.

Whilst many of the Strategy’s measures will be implemented administratively, others will require the making of new subordinate legislation under the Diseases of Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (as amended) (“the 1981 Order”).

In this context, it is envisaged that we will require the following subordinate legislation:

As per specified wildlife intervention areas, the making of orders to permit destruction of badgers under the 1981 Order, along with the making of orders

to permit ancillary powers to accompany such interventions.

The making of a new order (or the possible amendment of the Tuberculosis Control Order (Northern Ireland) 1999 (as amended)) to enable the testing of non-bovines for TB on holdings where no cattle are present.

In the longer term, the Department may seek to proceed with the making of new orders to provide for statutory improvement notices and statutory segregation notices for the control of bovine TB.

I have postponed the Strategy’s recommendations relating to finance and funding, which will be subject to review in two years’ time, however, should changes be required after that review, additional amendments to the Tuberculosis Control Order (Northern Ireland) 1999 (as amended) will also be required.