Consultation on wildlife intervention options to tackle bTB in Northern Ireland extended
Date published:
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has announced a two-week extension to its public consultation on options for potential wildlife intervention to help tackle bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in Northern Ireland.
The consultation will now close on Friday 9 October 2026.
Views are sought on a range of potential wildlife intervention options that could contribute to the long-term eradication of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in Northern Ireland as part of the Bovine Tuberculosis in Northern Ireland: Blueprint for Eradication.
It also invites comments on the wider Blueprint for Eradication and proposals relating to licensed lay vaccination of badgers.
A previously unavailable scientific report referenced within the consultation documentation has also now been made available on the consultation webpage.
The Department has decided to allow additional time to ensure that individuals and organisations have sufficient opportunity to consider this material, alongside the wider consultation documents, before submitting their views.
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir commented: "I am committed to ensuring that consultees have access to relevant information and a reasonable opportunity to provide informed responses. I have therefore decided to extend the consultation period by two weeks.
“This short extension will provide stakeholders and members of the public with additional time to consider the consultation documentation before finalising their responses.
“I welcome views from all interested individuals and organisations on the important issues covered by the consultation."
All consultation documents, including the newly available report.
Anyone who has already submitted a response may submit further comments before the revised closing date if they wish to do so. Responses must now be submitted by 5pm on Friday 9 October 2026.
Notes to editors:
- The consultation concerns potential wildlife intervention options as part of the Bovine Tuberculosis in Northern Ireland: Blueprint for Eradication.
- The consultation has been extended from 5pm on 25 September 2026 to 5pm on 9 October 2026.
- A previously unpublished report, A simulation model to assess the relative performance of wildlife intervention options on bTB in wildlife and cattle in Northern Ireland by Budgey, R. and Smith, G.C. (2019), which is referenced within Annex VIII of the consultation documentation, has also been made available on the consultation webpage.
- Consultation responses will inform future consideration of wildlife intervention policy as part of Northern Ireland's long-term bTB eradication strategy.
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