Farmers are being urged to make sure that any
paper-based notifications of cattle movements, births or deaths
actually reach the
British Cattle Movement Service during the postal
strikes.
NFU Cymru’s livestock
board chairman Ed Rees told a meeting at Glamorgan that there had
been a number of incidents where birth registration forms for
calves had arrived late or not at all.
“This has resulted in a lot of work in attempting to get
passports issued for the animals in question. Anyone wishing to
continue the use of the paper based methods for notifications
should obtain a proof of postage certificate from Post Offices, or
send by registered post, retaining the receipt as evidence that the
information was sent in time,” he said.
“We urge everyone who is notifying BCMS of any cattle
information to check that the information has arrived at BCMS and
to make sure that passports arrive safely back on farm for any
birth registrations made. The issue of passports is vital to the
value of animals on farm and we do not want to see farmers having
inspections and/or suffering penalties such as failure to issue
passports or late notification of movements as a result of the
ongoing postal strikes.”
Ed Rees added: “Changes made to the CTS online database have
also caused some problems and anyone having problems with the new
system should contact BCMS to notify or register any movements,
births or deaths in order to ensure that the correct information is
recorded within the correct time limits.”
Don't forget that if your copy of Farmers Weekly has not
arrived because of the strikes
you can
get a digital copy.
