Passports by phone OK – BCMS

THE BRITISH Cattle Movement Service has admitted it did not directly inform farmers that they could register for a cattle passport over the telephone in an emergency.

FARMERS WEEKLY has seen a letter sent by BCMS to Shrops farmer Howard Mold (News, Aug 13) which reveals that this information was not widely publicised.

“The telephone application system was not included in information sent out to keepers in Oct 2003, as this option is for emergencies only when the animal is nearing the 27 day deadline for the application to be received,” said the letter dated Aug 6.

Mr Mold, who had seven passports withheld because they arrived a day late, said he had written back to BCMS expressing his frustration at the comment.

His letter accused BCMS of “adding insult to injury” by telling him to use a system that BCMS had not informed him was available in the first place.

A BCMS spokeswoman said that it had informed farming unions that any members experiencing difficulties with the service could call to register an animal over the telephone.

BCMS has also clarified that it will now accept applications made by fax, but only if both sides of the CP12 form are sent.

The confirmation slip should be kept for records and if, after four days, no passport has been received, then farmers should ring BCMS to check it received the fax.

But one area where it appears that BCMS will not budge is the issue of fining farmers for late applications, rather than withholding passports.

The issue was raised by the NFU during a recent meeting with BCMS director David Evans.

The meeting was scheduled because the EU is talking about reducing the registration period from 27 days to 7 days. Both DEFRA and the NFU agreed they would oppose the suggestion strongly.

But when, during the meeting, the NFU suggested that farmers should be fined for a late passport application, BCMS claimed that it would be illegal under EU directives.

Lib Dem MP for Ludlow, Matthew Green, who has written to DEFRA secretary Margaret Beckett on the issue of cattle passports, said he doubted this was the case.

“The EU only provides the framework for legislation. If there is a problem you ask the commission for some movement on it,” he said.

“The system is rendering people‘s animals worthless. There should be a staged system whereby penalties get more severe,” Mr Green added.