Vet inspection charges relief
Vet inspection charges relief
FARMERS leaders have expressed relief after the government agreed to pay for veterinary inspections of animals moving out of infected areas for slaughter.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced the concession in foot-and-mouth controls after protests from farmers.
Producers claimed veterinary costs, plus the costs of cleansing and disinfection, were sometimes costing more than £100 per load.
NFU president Ben Gill said the costs had been prohibitive, particularly for smaller farms.
"This is a welcome relief for livestock farmers who were increasingly facing the anomaly of paying this charge as the size of infected areas was shrinking," he said.
National Beef Association chairman Robert Forster said the move will make a huge difference to farmers in infected areas. *