What Has Changed in the Fight Against Tuberculosis?
Official titleRegulation on Amending the Regulation on Combating Bovine Tuberculosis
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has shortened the testing periods in combating bovine tuberculosis and updated the requirements for obtaining disease-free establishment status.
Before
There was an obligation to wait 60 days between tests and uncertain processes for animals coming from non-free herds.
After
The minimum waiting period between tests has been reduced to 42 days; the requirement of 2 tests 6 months apart and isolation has been introduced for animals coming from outside.
Details of the Regulation
With the regulation amendment, significant reductions have been made in the waiting periods between bovine tuberculosis tests. The previously applied 60-day waiting periods have been reduced to 42 days, the 4-month periods to 84 days, and the 12-month maximum periods to 180 days. This amendment will allow establishments to complete their quarantine and testing processes more quickly in cases of suspicion or detection of the disease.
New and strict rules have been introduced in the event of introducing animals from a non-free herd. In order for such animals to be introduced into the existing herd, it has been made mandatory for them to test negative in two tests conducted at least 6 months apart and to be kept under complete isolation during this period. The period between the two tests may not exceed 12 months.
In the process of regaining the disease-free status, the requirement has been introduced that the first test following the removal of the last positive case must be performed within 7 business days, and the second test must be performed between 42 and 180 days after the first test. When positivity is detected in routine tests, the disease-free status will not be revoked immediately; instead, an annotation of 'suspicion of disease' will be entered for the establishment, and a controlled testing process will be initiated.
Questions You Might Have
- Will the 'disease-free' certificate of my establishment be revoked immediately if a suspicion of disease arises?
- No, if positivity occurs in a routine test, the status is not revoked; only a 'suspicion of disease' is added, and the testing process starting after 42 days is followed.
- What should I do when I introduce an animal from outside (from a non-free herd)?
- You must keep the animal separate from the others (isolation) and obtain negative results from two tests to be performed at least 6 months apart.
- What does this reduction in testing periods provide to the breeder?
- It ensures that quarantine periods are shortened and that the establishment returns to its commercial activities (sale of milk/meat, etc.) earlier.
Key Terms
- Arilik Statüsü
- The official certification that the animals in an establishment are free (clear) from specific diseases.
- Pozitif Reaktör
- An animal that shows a positive reaction to the disease in a tuberculosis test performed (suspected of being diseased).
- İzolasyon
- The physical separation of an animal carrying a disease risk in such a way that it does not come into contact with other animals.
Affected Sectors
- Cattle farming
- Dairy and meat producers
- Veterinary medicines and diagnostics
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REGAS Commentary
It is aimed to prevent economic losses as bureaucratic and medical waiting periods for livestock establishments are reduced. However, it is now much more critical for breeders who introduce animals from non-free herds to comply with the 6-month isolation rule; otherwise, they may lose their certificates entirely.