Defra’s plans to tackle bovine TB in 2015 has been approved by the European Commission which means England will get up to £12 million towards its TB eradication strategy.

For the sixth year the EU has approved funding for the programme first started in 2010, which is used for various parts of the strategy including laboratory work and on-farm cattle tests.

Funding, which will total around £25m will be divided between England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is teh single biggest allocation for a member states animal disease eradiation programme.

Approval of England’s plans follows an audit by the European Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office in September 2014.

Defra’s plans for 2015, include the new zero-tolerance approach to late TB tests, the badger vaccination scheme in counties in the ‘edge’ area of England, and badger culling in areas where the disease is rife.