Don’t Forget Cattle Passport Changes
WALES - National Farmers Union (NFU) Cymru is reminding livestock farmers across Wales that the new-style, single page, cattle passports are now in operation.
8 August 2011
2 minute read
As of the first of August 2011 all passports printed, and sent out from BCMS, will be a single page document.
This applies to new passports for calves or imported animals and to re-issued passports but the old style passports will not be replaced. The new passport will include the same information as the chequebook style passport but it will not have any movement cards.
There are no changes to the rules however. Cattle keepers will still need to report all movements to BCMS within three days and keep their farm records up to date. All keepers should by now have received a step-by-step handbook from BCMS and NFU Cymru is urging all farmers to read the handbook carefully, as failure to comply with the rules can lead to cross compliance breaches and a reduction in support payments.
Ed Bailey, NFU Cymru President, speaking at Brecon Show said: “NFU Cymru appreciates the rules when it comes to reporting to BCMS and would recommend using the electronic reporting service or automated self-service telephone line service for those without broadband internet access."
"What we don’t agree with, however, is the level of cross compliance penalties that are being dished out when Welsh farmers, accidently or inadvertently, don’t get their movement records to BCMS within the deadline. The penalties for minor breaches are completely disproportionate in our view.”
Mr Bailey went on to welcome the recent announcement by the Agriculture Minister, Alun Davies AM, that Gareth Williams will lead the Welsh Government’s work on reducing bureaucracy and provide better regulation in the farming industry in Wales.
Mr Bailey said: “I hope Gareth Williams will take into account all the hard work previously done by Peredur Hughes on trying to reduce the amount of red-tape our industry faces here in Wales and the work done by Richard Macdonald across the border in England."
“The fact that Welsh farmers can be penalised when a cattle movement is not reported to BCMS within three calendar days when EU regulations allow for up to seven days is my view a clear case of ‘gold plating’. We hope to meet with Mr Williams shortly to put forward our thoughts on how the Welsh Government can implement a simpler and more proportionate regulatory and inspection regime in Wales.”
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