New rules which require extra TB testing on NI farms will be phased in gradually, DAERA has confirmed. The rules are part of a new EU animal health law (AHL) which came into effect on Wednesday (21 April).

“It is likely to be several months before the bovine TB eradication programme can comply fully with the changes resulting from the AHL,” a briefing paper prepared by DAERA reads.

The document was sent to Stormont’s agriculture committee last week and states that the new rules have “a number of key implications” for the TB programme in NI.

The biggest change is the need for an animal to be either pre- or post-movement TB tested within 30 days of moving to another holding. It applies if both the animal and its herd of origin have not tested negative for TB within the previous six months.

The briefing paper also highlights that AHL will lead to new rules on re-stocking after a TB breakdown

Changes to APHIS, the department’s cattle movement database, will be needed to record new TB statuses which stem from AHL. An “implementation timetable” is being developed so that APHIS can manage the new TB testing requirements.

The briefing paper also highlights that AHL will lead to new rules on re-stocking after a TB breakdown, cleansing and disinfecting requirements on farms, and use of the interferon-gamma blood test for TB.

However, exact details of these changes are not clear yet.

The new AHL applies in Northern Ireland due to the NI protocol element of the Brexit withdrawal agreement.

Despite AHL coming into effect on Wednesday, DAERA’s briefing paper states that the European Commission.