The Fight Continues: East Midlands MEP hosts roundtable discussion in Uppingham on UK Bison Farming

Conservative MEP Emma McClarkin today drew together various stakeholders to seek clarity, understanding and support for Bison farmers in Leicestershire and across the UK.

In March of this year Ms McClarkin met with the EU Commission and successfully achieved a change in regulation for Bison farmers with regards to TB testing. Much more needs to be done, however, to ease all the elements that are required in farming these animals.

Bison’s heightened sensitivity to handling means that bovine regulation surrounding their farming is hazardous to the welfare of the animals.

Emma McClarkin said:

“Farming bison is not easy at the best of times; it can be both dangerous for the handlers and incredibly stressful for the animals. What we as politicians can do, however, is give our farmers regulatory and legal clarity, and – most importantly – ensure current regulation is feasible, practical and appropriate for their sector.

“Somewhere amongst the piles of EU regulation and between the various UK bodies and agencies, a misinterpretation has been made or a lack of awareness for how bison are farmed has occurred. Today aims to pinpoint that error and seek to redress it with all the necessary stakeholders on board.”

The meeting today included the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, The National Farmers Union and local Bison Farmers. It is hoped that through achieving a common understanding for the problems facing bison farmers, an action plan and a strategy can be drawn up to move forward.

Miss McClarkin added:

“We should be doing all that we can to support diversification in farming in the UK, helping our British farmers to reach new markets and delivering variety to our consumers. Farming bison – a meat in huge demand – is part of that diversification we should encourage. Farmers need our support and clarity on farming legislation.”