January 5, 2010
Welsh badger cull to curb TB in cattle faces legal challenge
Animal welfare campaigners in the UK have challenged the legality of a badger cull to curtail tuberculosis in cattle.
The Badger Trust said it was applying for a judicial review of the decision by the Welsh Assembly government to sanction a cull. The trust has exchanged several letters before action with the assembly's legal department since the decision in September 2009.
However, there had been considerable delays in receiving answers and a three-month time limit was expiring soon.
Any further delay could risk the application for a judicial review being declined, a trust spokesman said.
The law afforded a chance of challenging the cull's legality and it was an opportunity taken by the trust.
According to Welsh rural affairs minister, Elin Jones, tuberculosis in cattle was one of the biggest threats facing the dairy and beef industries in Wales. In 2008, more than 12,000 cattle were culled because of the disease, prompting payouts of nearly £25 million (US$36.1 million) in compensation.
She added that the cost to the taxpayers could reach £80 million (US$116 million) by 2014 if there is no action to eradicate the disease.
