Read our timeline to find out how NFU Cymru has been working for you on BTV-3.
2025
JULY:
- NFU Cymru President Aled Jones attended a roundtable with the Deputy First Minister to discuss next steps with BTV-3
- NFU Cymru met with the CVO for Wales to share the impact of the controls on farmers, to request urgent guidance for cross border farms and to push for policy changes.
JUNE:
- NFU Cymru and the NFU held a joint member webinar on BTV-3, featuring updates from the CVO for Wales and the Deputy CVO for the UK who gave an overview of the situation and answered members questions.
- Joint letter from NFU Cymru President Aled Jones and NFU President Tom Bradshaw sent to the Deputy First Minister (DFM) and Defra Parliamentary Under Secretary of State seeking financial assistance to livestock keepers to remove or minimise the prohibitive cost of pre-movement testing.
- NFU Cymru President Aled Jones and Director John Mercer met LTO (Dutch farmers’ union) and other EU counterparts to learn more about the BTV-3 controls in place within EU member states.
- NFU Cymru President Aled Jones and Political Adviser Huw Thomas discussed BTV-3 concerns with 12 Welsh MPs in Westminster. Ann Davies MP raised the issue in PMQs.
- Briefed opposition MSs ahead of oral statement by DFM on BTV-3 in the Senedd.
- Extensive list of member queries submitted to OCVO pressing for more guidance and policy changes.
- NFU Cymru President Aled Jones presented union’s position at Ministerial roundtable with DFM.
MAY:
- Presented the NFU Cymru position to Welsh Government as part of the regular disease preparedness workshops.
- NFU Cymru Livestock and Dairy Boards met jointly to reaffirm position on all England RZ (originally agreed in January)
MARCH:
- Livestock and Dairy Board Chairs, alongside policy team, met the CVO for Wales on BTV-3 controls following Welsh Government's licensing of BTV-3 vaccines for use in Wales.
2024:
- Worked with Welsh Government and supported members involved with the two isolated BTV outbreaks in Wales.
- Participated in monthly BTV-3 preparedness workshops with Welsh Government.
- Worked with colleagues in the NFU to prepare, monitor and respond to the BTV-3 outbreak experienced by farmers in South and East of England.
- NFU Cymru Livestock Board Chair Rob Lewis visited impacted farms in the Netherlands to see firsthand the impact of the disease.
2023:
- Since the first case in northern Europe, NFU Brussels office reported developments and the EU response and controls.
