At the moment it costs the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) £44 million every year to prevent animal disease and prepare for outbreaks. However, a new consultation suggests farmers pay half through a new tax on livestock. The £22m would be raised by putting a levy on different animals including £4.80 for a dairy cow.
Mrs Carr has condemned the Government's decision to "pass the buck" on to farmers as reckless and has warned that further attempts to increase industry contributions for disease prevention will only cause further damage to the industry.
Commenting, Sarah Carr said; "Farmers have been hit as hard by the recession as anyone. It is simply unfair to expect them to pay for disease outbreaks, when the 2007 Foot and Mouth Outbreak started on Government-licensed premises."
"We all accept that in the current climate cuts need to be made, but to punish those who are already struggling to get by is unforgivable."
