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NUMBER 06/02 23 January 2006 |
From this year, English sheep producers that do not conform to the new EU rules for animal identification and movement recording that came into force last July risk the penalty of having improperly or un-identified stock excluded from the food chain as well as losing subsidy payments, reminds the English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX).
What is more, they could jeopardise the continuation of the UK's hard-won temporary permission not to follow EU double-tagging requirements until 2008 beyond its current expiry date at the end of the coming April.
Under these circumstances, it is vital all flocks adhere to the detail of the new national rules for sheep and goat identification set out in Defra Guidance published last November (available at www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tracing/sheep/sheepgoatsrules-idbook.pdf).
For identification and movement purposes, the rules now define a holding as the main site and any land within 5 miles of its boundary. This distance is measured 'as the crow flies' from the nearest edge of the main site. Any land partially within the 5 mile limit or that touches land partially within the 5 mile limit is considered to be within the main holding.
All holdings entirely outside the 5 mile limit now require a separate official CPH number from the Rural Payments Agency (tel: 0845 603 7777) even if they are solely managed and controlled by the same keeper.
Any stock moved to these outside holdings - as well as to another keeper's holding regardless of distance - has to be identified with an uniquely numbered ear tag of the appropriate type (most usually a 'UK' holding of birth or 'S' non-holding of birth tag). Temporary (paint) marks are no longer acceptable.
As well as correct tagging, all such external movements - including those to land solely managed and controlled by the same keeper - need to be accompanied by an official movement document (form AML1) which must be copied to the local authority by the keeper receiving the animals.
Although an official movement document and report to the local authority is not required for any movements to outlying fields within the main holding but separate from the main site, the rules stipulate they should be recorded in the flock register so the whereabouts of all animals can be established at any time.
As well as urging producers to adhere to the identification and movement recording rules for their own and the industry's good, EBLEX points out that separate flock registers are now required for each calendar year. An example of the format and information required is available at www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tracing/sheep/register1205.pdf.
These are direct quotes from MLC Policy Adviser, Mark Topliff
who can be contacted on 01908 844268.
Alternatively, do ring your EBLEX Regional Manager or the Press Office on 01908
844166. Further information, including latest pricing, is available at
www.eblex.org.uk or through a dedicated
helpline on 0870 243 0441.
The European Commission has adopted Regulations which require a) all sheep & goats born after 9 July 2005 to be double-tagged and b) the recording of every individual movement. The rules however allow a Member State to continue using their current system of identification if it provides traceability between holdings.
Defra believes that its existing system provides the necessary traceability required and have applied to the Commission to keep it in place. If it is successful in its application farmers will be able to continue using the existing identification system until 2008. Farmers are therefore being urged to make sure they are familiar with the existing identification and movement rules ahead of an EU inspection this year.
To ensure your sheep are properly identified you must individually identify (the recommendation is a 'UK' tag in the left ear) all sheep born on your holding within 12 months of birth or before they move off the holding. This is the case even if they move straight to slaughter.
For sheep moving off your holding, which were not born on your farm, you must further identify them with an 'S' tag. It is recommended that this tag is placed in the right ear. A maximum of three tags is allowed (i.e. one 'UK' and two 'S' tags.) where this limit is reached you must record the full identification mark in the movement records. There is no need to use an 'S' tag for movements to slaughter, common grazing and returns from temporary grazing, these can continue using a paintmark (however this will be further limited from July 9th 2005). Other exemptions to an 'S' tag include movements where the full identification mark is required to be recorded on the movement documents i.e. sheep moving to shows and for breeding exemptions or where a producer prefers to record the individual ear tag number rather than putting in an 'S' tag, a small producer for example. If a 'UK' tag is lost or unreadable you must replace it. You can either replace it with an identical tag (if you know the number) or with a red 'R' replacement tag.
Further information and a leaflet outlining these rules can be found on the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tracing/sheep/idleaflet.pdf
10-month Occupation for Single Farm Payment Producers may be aware that to get the new Single Farm Payment (SFP) in 2005, the land they are claiming on must be ‘at their disposal’ for a continuous 10-month period during the year. It has now been announced when this period will have to run.
Instead of there being a set start-date, farmers will be able to choose their own commencement date within a ‘window’. This window will open as from the 1st October 2004 (so that the 10-month period ends at the end of July 2005). The window will close on the 30th April 2005 – meaning that any 10-month period starting on that date will finish at the end of Feb 2006.
Basically, farmers therefore have a 17-month period in which to fit their 10-month occupation. If they fail to outline a preferred period then the 'default' rules will assume that the 10-month occupation starts on the 1st Feb 2005. The dates will be reviewed for the years after 2005. Only one date can be used for each IACS holding, and it is anticipated that the choice of date will be made on the annual IACS claim.
Note that this is a UK-wide decision and applies to all regions.
The phrase ‘at their disposal’ is obviously fairly vague – such a concept not being explicitly recognized in English tenancy law. Defra has stated that as far as it is concerned it ‘includes the right to use land to the exclusion of others e.g. freehold (without a lease), or leasehold (without a sublease).’ Presumably, where land is let on a licence (eg many grass-keep arrangements) it is up to the two parties to agree between them who makes the claim. Defra go on to state that ‘a parcel of land can only be used to support one claim in any year. If it appears against two claims then it will be necessary to resolve any resulting dispute before the subsidy involved can be released’.
It should also be remembered that the 10-month rule is a cross-compliance condition. It must be followed to receive payment of the SFP. However, you can still establish a right to SFP entitlements (i.e. register for them) in 2005, even if you cannot make an actual claim because it is not possible to follow the cross-compliance rules. This gets the entitlements registered against your name and then you can make a claim in 2006 or whichever later year you are able to cross-comply in.
More details can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/farm/capreform/implementation/qa12.htm
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NUMBER 04/08 16 July 2004 |
The expense and inconvenience of double-tagging all breeding sheep could easily become a reality in England next year if producers do not take special care to ensure all their stock are correctly identified this season, warns the English Beef and Lamb Executive.
Defra is currently seeking a national exemption to last December's EU regulation requiring the double-tagging of breeding sheep born after July 9, 2005. But this exemption will only be granted if a visit from EU inspectors, expected in the near future, satisfies the European Commission that the existing national system ensures complete traceability between holdings.
This puts the onus fairly and squarely on English producers to take particular care to comply with the letter of current tagging regulations, which Defra is currently re-emphasising in guidance notes sent directly to all producers.
In addition to UK (holding of birth) tags, which must be applied to all sheep within 12 months of birth or before they leave their birth holding, special diligence will be needed in the secure application of S and R tags as and when required.
With the exemption of movements from the holding of birth, S tags have to be applied to all animals prior to every movement to another holding, unless the individual animal numbers are recorded both on the movement document and in the flock register.
In addition, lost or unreadable tags have to be replaced as soon as possible; either with an identical UK (holding of birth) tag if the original identity of the animal is known, or with a red R tag if it is not.
Extra care and attention on the part of every English producer at this stage to ensure the simple tagging rules are being implemented on every occasion will pay real dividends in securing national exemption from the additional burden of double-tagging in 2005 and beyond.
Further information and guidance can be obtained from Grant Horsburgh or Clare Parnham at Defra on 0207 904 6093.
| UK (Holding of Birth)Tag | S Tag | R Tag |
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These comments are direct quotes from MLC Sheepmeat Economics Manager, Jane Connor, who can be contacted on 01908 844268. Alternatively, do ring your EBLEX Regional Manager or the Press Office on 01908 844166. Further information, including latest pricing, is available at www.eblex.org.uk or through a dedicated helpline on 0870 243 0441.
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