23 March 2010

2 minute read

Europe

These passports will start to arrive from Wednesday, 24 March, and will have a note on the front page stating:

Passports now have only 5 movement cards as most movements are reported electronically

The decision to reduce the number has been made following consultation with industry. In 2009 only 25 per cent of movements were reported by movement cards and most passports returned following the death of an animal have several unused cards in them.

At the end of March BCMS will be sending new movement card envelopes to customers who have sent movement cards in the last 12 months. These envelopes should be used with immediate effect and older versions destroyed.

The movement envelopes now have the address of an external subcontracted company, BCMS are already using this address for Passport application forms and Statement returns. This will streamline the processing of movement cards.

If keepers run out of movement cards within the passport they can send off for a new passport. Keepers should contact BCMS on 0845 050 1234 to clarify the process with regard to returning the original empty passport and receiving a new passport.

To avoid the extra burden, keepers are advised to whenever possible use electronic means to report movements. BCMS are also encouraging as many larger shows as possible to use E Movement reporting, thus preventing use of the paper movement cards.

TheCattleSite News Desk