A few days ago a Dutch vet warned that livestock farming in East Anglia could be decimated unless a vaccine is available in time.

So it is very welcome news that the European Commission will co-finance a mass bluetongue vaccination campaign across the EU.

The plans, which include meeting the full cost of purchasing the vaccine and 50% of administrative costs, will be paid out of the EU budget. It is a huge relief to livestock farmers across the region who have been hit by repeated outbreaks of animal disease over recent years.

My MEP Robert Sturdy has been giving several media interviews about this today and urges the British government to immediately apply for bluetongue funding. He said:

“I urge the British government to apply for this funding immediately and to waste no time in securing the future of our livestock industry. Outbreaks of animal disease are no longer a case of ‘if’ but ‘when’ and the agricultural industry will need assurances that there are sufficient stockpiles of vaccination available.

“I am delighted with the announcement of the EU’s Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou and hope the British government will take full advantage of his offer. Our government has repeatedly failed its agricultural community. Today is a chance to restore faith in the sustainability of the livestock industry.”