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Welfare During Transport Regulations
The Need For a Certificate of Competence. What’s Involved?
On behalf of Defra’s Transport and Markets Team, ADAS is running the above advisory campaign for livestock producers, hauliers, veterinary surgeons and the allied industries. These rules affect many individuals and companies involved in the movement of animals including livestock producers as well as hauliers.
There is a meeting scheduled in Somerset at Frome Agricultural Centre, Standerwick, Frome on Thursday 17th January 2008.
Industry Workshops on the Welfare of Animals during Transport
Meetings 10am – 12.30am and 2pm – 4.30pm
Meetings will highlight what the requirements are, the difference covering the under and over 8 hour journeys and to discuss the 19 competencies drawn from the Regulations that form the basis of the competence assessments.
ADAS have been asked by Defra to deliver a series of briefings about the final part of the new transport legislation EC 1/2005 and how it is being implemented in England. The briefings scheduled for November have been postponed until January at the request of Defra to give the farming industry time to recover from the effects of Foot and Mouth restrictions. In addition, Defra have now given a national derogation for the requirement to be assessed and to obtain their Certificated of Competence to be deferred until the end of April 2008 instead of 5th January 2008 as required by the Regulation.
The meeting will be presented by Peter Kettlewell, ADAS Transport Specialist and Eddie Harper, MBE, Independent Transport Consultant.
Further information about the venues/meetings can be obtained by contacting ADAS Lincoln on 01522 521302
email animalhealth@adas.
This meeting is free but I believe they wish to know numbers likely to attend so please get in touch with them to confirm.Ann Parkhouse Membership Secretary and Vice Chair
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Double
Tagging of Sheep and Goats
UK has lost its derogation from double tagging of sheep and goats.
Following the outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in 2001 the
EU was concerned that the existing rules for movement and
identification of animals were not satisfactory and required
improvement. Instead of double tagging, the UK applied for a
derogation to retain the national system as it provided a
sound level of traceability, recognising the stratified
nature of our sheep industry, something double tagging
cannot do.
Maintaining our national system was also the industry’s preferred
option. In order to retain the derogation the UK had to
demonstrate to the UE veterinary inspectors that it was
complying with the national system. Three separate EU
inspections have, however, been highly critical of UK
industry’s failure to apply the requirements.
The Main differences that keepers will need to be aware
of are:
- Animals
intended for slaughter before the age of 12 months and
not intended for export will require a single holding
birth (HoB) only.
- Breeding
animals will require identifying with two tags within
nine months of birth or sooner if leaving the holding.
Both tags must contain the same information
i.e. UK flock number of the holding of birth (HoB) and
an individual number.
Details on the precise requirements on movement documents and how
replacement tags are recorded in the flock register are
still being worked on.
In the meantime, until the new legislation is introduced, you should
continue to comply with the current arrangements for the
identification and movement of sheep and goats.
(Taken from a magazine for agricultural &
rural affairs in Wales)
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