On Monday, groups representing Britain’s vets called on the government to extend the deadline for vets to sign new bovine TB testing contracts by a month, which they said would give veterinary practices enough time to scrutinise the contracts properly.
 
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) awarded TB testing contracts to five Delivery Partners for England in February and the Delivery Partners issued contracts to potential subcontractors (veterinary practices) earlier this month. The deadline for signing contracts was 24 April, with a start date of 1 May.

Farm unions and vets’ representatives have expressed concerns about the changeover.
 
Although independent practices have managed to arrange short extensions through direct contact with the Delivery Partners, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA) said that members had raised a number of questions about the contracts and are particularly concerned about the short timeframe given to sign.

The two groups have written to Defra Secretary of State Liz Truss, asking that the process be extended by one month, giving veterinary practices more time to consider signing up to become subcontractors.
 
BVA President John Blackwell said on Monday, “The move to tendering for TB testing and other official veterinarian services has caused a significant amount of anxiety for some of our members.
 
“One of the biggest concerns we are hearing from members is that they have not been given enough time to consider the impact of the new contract on their practice and that they need more time to properly scrutinise the detail and obtain answers to their questions. The government has been planning tendering for several years, but its stipulated procurement timelines have given local veterinary practices just a few days to make these significant decisions.” 
 
Blackwell added, “We have consistently warned Defra that the move to tendering must not simply be a cost cutting exercise, because the UK’s network of veterinary practices, which is vital for spotting and dealing with animal disease, is at stake.
 
“We opposed the move to tendering from day one, but we are where we are and it is essential that the government now works with the Delivery Partners and veterinary practices to make sure the TB eradication programme can be delivered effectively.”