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Livestock hauliers are back in action

8th March 2001, Page 8
8th March 2001
Page 8
Page 8, 8th March 2001 — Livestock hauliers are back in action
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• by Miles Brignall Livestock hauliers have been allowed to resume deliveries of animals in areas unaffected by the foot and mouth outbreak, but they are having to work under tight controls.

Last weekend cattle were moved off farms for the first time in almost two weeks, after the Ministry of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food (MALE) announced that animals could be moved directly to abattoirs under special licence. MAFF and Trading Standards officials worked throughout the weekend to put into place the licensing system that allows the movement of animals.

MAFF made the decision to allow the movement of animals to resume as meat supplies started to run low at butchers and supermarkets. Local Trading Standards staff issue the permits on MAFF's behalf when it is clear that the animals in question have not been infected.

However, earlier this week (5 March) it was clear that the system was suffering from a few teething problems. Cumbria livestock haulier WM Armstrong did not have any vehicles moving, despite plenty of requests.

"Lots of our customers have applied for permits but we are still waning to see what's happening," says a spokesman. "I'd expect the vehicles to be moving in the morning, but at the moment it's taking a while to sort out."

I Irish livestock hauliers have begun operating a similar system in the Republic, where any haulier failing to comply faces a possible five-year jail term or a fine of 1R£100,000.

Details of foot and mouth disease regulations for hauliers in the Republic are available on the web at wwwirlgovie/daff.

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Organisations: Ministry of Agriculture

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