Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the incidence of Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis; and if he will make a statement.

Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) is an endemic viral disease of cattle that is widespread across Europe and other parts of the world. In common with other viral diseases there is no specific treatment for IBR and so mainly supportive therapy and vaccination are used by farmers in consultation with their private veterinary surgeons. There are also a number of industry-driven health schemes that seek to control or eradicate IBR from individual herds.

Additional information is available on the Cattle Health Certification Standards (CHeCS) website.