ROMSEY’S MP claims government plans to force farmers to contribute to the cost of controlling animal diseases are unfair.

Sandra Gidley said she was alarmed at the proposals and warned that the Animal Health Responsibility and Cost Sharing Bill, scheduled to be introduced by June, 2010, could hit Hampshire livestock farmers hard.

In March, the government launched a consultation on the proposals to find out views of livestock owners and other interested parties.

However, Mrs Gidley say farming bodies such as the NFU are opposed to the plans which could force farmers to pay half of Defra’s cost.

“The feeling is that farmers should not pay for the Government’s failed disease contagion control regime,” said Mrs Gidley.

The MP added: “The Government wouldn’t ask communities affected by swine flu to pay to cover the cost, so it’s completely unfair that farmers are being forced to pick up the tab.

“I’m amazed that Gordon Brown has the audacity to even suggest that livestock farmers should pay these increased costs, especially since the 2007 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak clearly came from a government-licensed premises.

This move would be particularly unwelcome in Hampshire where bovine TB remained a continuous problem, said Mrs Gidley.

Defra officials say farmers in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland all pay towards animal health schemes.