Late passports to cost £40m

CATTLE passport applications arriving late at the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) are set to cost the national beef industry the best part of £40 million in lost retail sales this year as well as opening the door to an additional 10,000 tonnes of unnecessary beef imports, according to latest estimates from the English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX).

Since last November when the legal requirement for cattle passports applications to be made not later than 27 days after birth began to be rigorously enforced, BCMS records show a total of over 20,000 animals have been refused full passports. They also show 70% of refusals relating to beef-bred cattle.

These animals will never be allowed to enter the food chain and have to remain on their holding of birth throughout their entire lives. So they are essentially worthless for anything other than breeding.

Overall passport refusals have been running consistently at 2000-3000/month in 2004. While an appeals process has been established, under half of the appeals against initial refusal lodged to date have been successful.

If late applications continue at their current level, EBLEX calculates there are likely to be upwards of 30,000 cattle across the country without full passports by the end of 2004. At current market values this represents a loss of £38 million to the beef industry, over £18 million of which is direct to producers.

Add this to the 40,000 head of prime beef stock still leaking into the OTM scheme every year and the unnecessary annual losses to the industry rise to over £90 million. Such losses – and the 22,000 tonnes of extra space they create for imported beef – seriously erode the value of the strong English consumer demand for beef so successfully re-established in recent years.

With nearly 60% of refusals relating to applications received seven days late or less, English producers are urged to make passport management part of their weekly routine, lodging applications for all births each week, even where details are missing. They can always provide the extra information subsequently without jeopardising the application.

Since poor postal service has been specifically excluded by BCMS as sufficient grounds for an appeal, electronic application through CTS On-Line is advised wherever possible for the greatest security. Alternatively, postal applications should be made as early as possible.
 
As part of their weekly routine, producers should check passports issued carefully against applications. Any discrepancies discovered should be reported immediately via the helpline (0845 0501234), which should also be used to inform BCMS as soon as anyone realises they may have difficulty meeting any application deadline.

Further information and guidance can be obtained from Grant Horsburgh or Clare Parnham at Defra on 0207 904 6093.