DAERA urged to act as Swann warns NI faces dual legal barriers to bovine TB vaccine rollout

Northern Ireland is being prevented from participating in the UK-wide rollout of a bovine tuberculosis (bTB) cattle vaccine due to a combination of EU regulations applied under the Windsor Framework and Northern Ireland’s own domestic legislation, South Antrim MP Robin Swann has warned.

Mr Swann raised the issue directly with the UK Government, receiving confirmation that Northern Ireland cannot currently be included in the marketing authorisation for the vaccine.

Responding to his Parliamentary Question, DEFRA Minister Dame Angela Eagle stated that the region is excluded because “the movement of veterinary medicines into Northern Ireland must comply with relevant EU rules.” This includes the EU prohibition on the use of the bovine TB vaccine.

In England and Wales, Phase Three trials of the vaccine are now under way — progress that Northern Ireland cannot match due to the legislative restrictions.

Mr Swann said:

“DEFRA has now confirmed that the Windsor Framework requires Northern Ireland to continue following EU rules which currently ban the use of the bovine TB vaccine. This means Northern Ireland continues to be held back, even as trials in England and Wales move to Phase Three.”

However, Mr Swann stressed that the EU ban is not the only obstacle. He said that DAERA has confirmed Northern Ireland’s own laws would still block vaccine deployment even if EU rules changed.

“However, the DAERA Minister has also made it clear that Northern Ireland’s own legislation blocks the use of the vaccine here. Even if the EU were to permit the vaccine tomorrow, Northern Ireland law as it stands may still well prevent it.”

In written correspondence to Mr Swann, the DAERA Minister confirmed that both domestic legislation and EU law applying under the Windsor Framework currently prohibit the use of bovine TB vaccination in cattle.

Highlighting the implications for the agriculture sector, Mr Swann added:

“The lack of access to a Bovine TB vaccine in Northern Ireland cannot be blamed on the EU alone. DAERA also has a responsibility and should urgently review and update domestic legislation so that if the vaccine receives final approvals, Northern Ireland would be ready and permitted to use it.

“Our farmers cannot be left years behind the rest of the UK because of inaction. I urge the DAERA Minister to bring forward the necessary legislative changes as soon as possible and remove the blockages which are within his power.”

The call intensifies pressure on DAERA to ensure Northern Ireland does not fall significantly behind other UK regions in accessing new tools aimed at tackling bovine TB, a disease that continues to have major financial and emotional impacts on farming communities.