Board OK to OTMS transport aid

5 March 2001



Board OK to OTMS transport aid

By FWi staff

FARMERS leaders have welcomed the Intervention Board decision to meet extra transport costs for removing casualty Over-Thirty-Month Scheme stock.

The decision ensures casualty animals can be collected and entered into the OTMS scheme during the foot-and mouth-crisis.

It was agreed in discussions between the National Farmers Union and the Licensed Animal Slaughter and Salvage Association late last week.

Under this, the cap on charges was to be lifted to ensure individual trips to farms were cost-effective for knackermen.

Knackermen are prevented by disease-control measures from
collecting several animals at a time.

Now the Intervention Board has now said it will pay any charges over and above the normal capped rate with immediate effect until 30 April, 2001.

Concerns about possible increased transport costs had been raised by the NFU.

NFU Deputy President Tim Bennett said: “Our priority was to get an emergency scheme up and running to help farmers deal with such cattle and which allowed them to claim much-needed compensation.

“This decision by the IB to meet any extra transport costs is very welcome.

“It will remove one more worry producers can well do without.”

Only the standard capped charge will be deducted from producers compensation payments.