Reaction to the cost sharing proposals

“Livestock owners are worst affected by disease outbreaks, and they also benefit from disease control.

"It is right they should be more involved in making decisions about how we prevent and handle those diseases, and contribute to the costs of collective action to tackle disease threats.”

Defra Secretary Hilary Benn

“Farmers will be dismayed by these proposals and they have little confidence in Defra on animal health issues. We have bovine TB reaching epidemic proportions in parts of the country…The department doesn’t have a good enough handle on its own costs…and we don’t think they do enough to keep diseases out of the country.I find it incredible that ministers can suggest that, in future, livestock farmers should pay half of Government costs for an incident like the 2007 FMD outbreak.”

NFU president Peter Kendall

“To receive this piece of news this week is a real kick in the teeth, particularly since the proposed levy for dairy cows is proportionally far greater than for any other animal.

"It demonstrates Defra’s complete disregard for dairy farmers, who are wrestling with the cost implications of NVZs. TB overhangs the sector like the sword of Damocles and farmgate milk prices continue to fall.”

RABDF chairman Lyndon Edwards

“Before the Government imposes greater burdens on farmers, it must get its own house in order by improving biosecurity at our borders and at its own laboratories.”

Conservative Shadow Agriculture Minister Jim Paice

“Quite frankly I think it’s disgraceful that Defra is trying to pass the buck to farmers, by forcing them to pay a further £22million in addition to the mountain of other costs they are already required to pay.”

Liberal Democrat Defra Spokesman Tim Farron

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