NSA demands six-day standstill changes
Sheep farmers are challenging the new Animal Health and Welfare board to push for changes to the six-day livestock standstill rule within the next three months.
The National Sheep Association has warned that a more workable system needs to be introduced because it is causing growing resentment among sheep producers.
As part of his red tape review, former NFU director general Richard Macdonald recommended last year that the six-day standstill arrangement should be changed so that it no longer applies to animals moving directly between farms.
The government has already said it will be responding in early in 2012 to the recommendations put forward by the review.
“The NSA wants to work with the AHWB to help DEFRA deliver sound, sustainable policy for the sheep sector. But if the board is to achieve credibility within the industry it has to deliver on policy – and for sheep farmers the big issue demanding urgent action is the six-day standstill rule,” said NSA chairman John Geldard following a meeting with AHWB chairman Mark Tuffnell.
Mr Geldard said it was “deeply wrong” for innocent farmers to be made into criminals because they couldn’t use the regulation in the proper way to run their businesses sustainably.
DEFRA needed to realise it was creating growing resentment among sheep producers.
“We need proper protectional systems for our industry in the event of a disease outbreak and the NSA would be the last to say there must be any relaxation of the purpose of the six-day rule – but it has to be made workable.
“The six-day rule should be replaced by on-farm isolation units where stock can be signed off by the farm’s own vet – working under the remit of the government’s chief vet – to deliver a professional and sensible approach to disease control.
“This issue requires immediate action by the AHWB – and the NSA’s challenge to the board is to introduce the reform that’s needed within three months,” said Mr Geldard.
Mark Tuffnell, who farms in Gloucestershire, met NSA officials in Kendal. He said the board was already discussing the six-day standstill rule.
“I shall feed back all the information I’ve heard from my meeting with the NSA and which is clearly backing up a case for change. The AHWB’s advice will go to the minister and it will be up to him to decide how this goes forward.
“Questions such as what determines an on-farm isolation unit? How would it operate? When would the vet be involved? Who would pay for the vet? Would the vet be a private vet or an official vet? These are the nitty-gritty details that have to be sorted out.”
Mr Tuffnell said the AHWB was keen to “get on” with its job and assured the NSA there would be no delay in passing on its concerns over the six-day standstill to the minister.
“I’m a farmer and I want to see things move, but it will be up to the minister to decide if and when any changes will be made.”