| Printing error confuses animal movements | |
|  | | Sheep will now be able to be moved under the conditions of a general licence |
| | Devon's Trading Standards Service is to help farmers confused by Government changes to the foot-and-mouth animal movement controls after the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) published the wrong start date for the changes. |
|  | | In a leaflet sent out to farmers by Defra, the start date was incorrectly stated as 29th August 2002. In in fact the changes are due to come into effect on 6th September 2002.
The incorrect information has already caused confusion for some farmers.
The new changes mean sheep and goats will be able to be moved under the conditions of a general licence.
This means farmers will not need to apply to their local Trading Standards office for an individual movement licence. Cattle and pigs are already being moved in this way.
 | | Cattle are already being moved under the new conditions |
Farmers moving sheep, goats, deer and pigs will be required to complete a new movement record document which will have to travel with the animals.
All of the original movement restrictions were brought into force because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2001.
The rule preventing further movements, within 20 days of animals arriving at a farm, is to be maintained but a new exemption is to be introduced.
Farmers who move breeding sheep or cattle onto their holding can keep those animals in strictly approved isolation units and thereby avoid a 20-day standstill on the rest of the holding.
The conditions for the isolation unit are very strict and farmers considering setting up an approved unit should ring their local vet.
Roger Rivett, Head of Trading Standards for Devon County Council, said: "In line with our policy throughout the foot-and-mouth recovery period, we are trying to do all we can to help and encourage farmers to comply with the current controls.
"We would much rather they got it right, than have to take enforcement action when they don't."
Anyone who wants to enquire about the general licence for movement of animals or to request help on a general farm animal welfare or disease issue can find out more by phoning Devon's Animal Health Advice Helpline on 01392 382895.
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