Policy paper

Bovine TB surveillance testing in England

Sets out the government's approach to calculating routine herd testing frequency in England.

• From: Animal and Plant Health Agency
• Published: 16 December 2020
• Last updated: 17 April 2026
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  1. 17 April 2026

     Updated to state that cattle in herds located in Hotspots and Enhanced Surveillance Areas in the LRA may be tested as frequently as every 6 months. (Until now it was just cattle in herds located in TB Hotspots in the LRA). Updated to clarify that you must continue to comply with statutory pre-movement testing requirements if your herd in the LRA is tested annually or more frequently. The previous wording referred to herds tested more frequently than every 4 years; this update reflects the introduction of 24-month testing as an option.

  2. 16 December 2020

     First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Principles that apply to calculate the current routine herd testing frequency in England

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This document set out the government’s approach to calculating the current routine herd testing frequency in England.