The international standard for TB freedom is reached when 99.8% of domestic cattle and deer herds have been free of bovine TB for three years. This figure has been set by the Office Internationale Epizooties (World Organisation for Animal Health).
Nearly all of New Zealand’s major international trading partners have attained this standard of TB freedom, but unfortunately, we continue to have a relatively high level of TB infection.
The aim of New Zealand’s TB control programme is to achieve official TB free status by 2013. This goal was endorsed by farmers, industry and local and central Government who want to protect our reputation as a supplier of safe, high quality meat and dairy products.
TBfree New Zealand
The TB control programme in New Zealand is guided by the National Pest Management Strategy for Bovine TB (NPMS). It is managed by the Animal Health Board under the programme name "TBfree New Zealand".
The programme works on two fronts:
- disease control - aiming to control and contain the spread of the disease within cattle and deer herds
- vector control - aiming to control and contain the wild animal species mostly responsible for spreading the disease to cattle and deer.