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'Lack of awareness' over livestock regs
Page 14
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ivestock hauliers remain unsure about the changes :hat came in this month. David Harris reports.
HE NEW certificate of ompetence requirement for rivers of livestock vehicles ; widely misunderstood by perators, says one of the key .aining companies.
On 5 January, ELJ rules came ito force in the UK which affect 11 businesses that transport cattle, leep, goats, pigs, horses and oultry by road for more than 5km. Drivers and attendants oth require a certificate of )mpetence, and a more rigorous level two') version is needed for lose undertaking journeys of lore than eight hours.
Wayne Grills,managing director of Lantra Awards, which provides training and assessments for the certificates, says: "There appears to be a lack of awareness of the changes in the EU legislation for the welfare of animals during transport, and how to go about getting the appropriate certificate."
Failure to comply with the new requirement carries a possible penalty of £5,000 and/or six months in prison. But the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) says no action will be taken in the UK against those without certificates until the end of April.This initially relaxed attitude to the rules is partly due to recent setbacks in the industry, such as the outbreaks of foot and mouth and bluetongue, which may have delayed compliance.
Roger Wrapson, secretary of the Road Haulage Association's livestock group, says one of the problems for hauliers has been that, until recently, there were not enough trainers available to provide the level two certificate. Wrapson adds: "That seems to have been addressed now, so I think that by the end of April everybody should be OK."