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Livestock vet fees to rise

22nd April 1999, Page 11
22nd April 1999
Page 11
Page 11, 22nd April 1999 — Livestock vet fees to rise
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• by David (Valk Hauliers who are involved in the export of livestock could be forced out of the sector if they have to pay substantially more for pre-export veterinary inspection checks.

The Government wants to change the current system in which hauliers organise payment individually with vets of their own choice from 31 May this year. Instead it wants an independent veterinary nomination system and the introduction of a standard national veterinary charge which hauliers will pay when applying for export certificates.

David Owen, company secretary of the Welsh farmer's group Farmers Ferry, which launched an export ferry

between Dover and Dunkirk last year, warns that vets' charges could increase from a current average of "280 per check to over £200", making hauliers unprofitable.

"Another danger is that these extra charges could be passed down to farmers who subcontract hauliers to export," says Owen. "They would then have to employ cheaper haulage, which would not be beneficial to the welfare of animals being exported."

Owen says the 1200 figure has been reached independently by Farmers Ferry. A spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food admits that charges will rise, but says hauliers will not pay "a vast amount more".

A consultation exercise has been launched to set a national charge.

• The number of foreignlicensed livestock vehicles using the Farmers Ferry. launched on 14 August last year. has "risen alarmingly". says David Owen. He estimates that 60% of vehicles using the ferry between Dover and Dunkirk are now Belgian or Dutch-based.

m The journey times of Yorkshire-based livestock transporter F Machin & Sons of Northallerton are being closely monitored by the MAFF for a year starting on 12 April. The company was convicted at Northallerton magistrates in October last year for 123 offences relating to the journey times of live animals.

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Organisations: Ministry of Agriculture
Locations: Yorkshire

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