24th October 2007
NSA has stated its annoyance at the medicines withdrawal issue which has come to light as a result of actions taken by the Food Standards Agency. The problem has emerged because sheep sold as breeding sheep at a breeding sheep sale in the north of England were purchased by an individual who then sent them for slaughter at Welsh Country Foods.
NSA Chief Executive Peter Morris said 'This is a very annoying incident and sheep producers throughout the country who are under pressure are quite rightly very angry that this incident has taken place. The Food Standards Agency and Trading Standards have acted quite correctly to insist on a product recall. The risk to human health is described as very small but nevertheless because the withdrawal periods on various products appear not to have been observed they had no choice but to act in this manner. We can only hope that consumers keep this incident in perspective and continue to buy and eat lamb in large quantities'.
Mr Morris continued 'I do not understand how breeding sheep sold at a breeding sheep sale could have been purchased by anyone and sent to slaughter. Whoever bought these animals has either made a very stupid mistake and should have known better or has just disregarded the rules in place and the information available at the sale about the animals - if that is the case then it is unforgivable.
In any other year these quality breeding animals would have been selling at prices way above slaughter values, but because trade has been so depressed this year due to the lack of confidence and movement restrictions, the sheep have been selling at slaughter values. The situation for the sheep industry is terrible as it is; we really did not need an incident like this, it could not have come at a worse time.'
For further information please contact NSA on telephone number 01684 892661
NSA NEWS RELEASE
Letter from JOHN THORLEY,
OBE
Chief Executive the National Sheep Association
on his retirement 31st December 2005
3rd January 2006 - One of the great things about my involvement with the NSA is that no matter how up to date I think I have been with the work, there has always been some unfinished business.
As I write this note on the 23rd December 2005, I feel that it is important before I demit office to thank you all for the support and help which you, and in many cases your predecessors, have given me in my work with NSA. That I will have made plenty of mistakes since I became involved in 1968, I would admit freely. But there have also been a few successes, and none of these would have been possible without the positive guidance, constructive criticism, and totally dedicated efforts of so many of you over a very long time.
NSA is now a real force to be reckoned with. The Headquarters at Malvern puts us in an enviable position and one of tangible strength with a dedicated staff which, with Peter Morris at the helm, will continue to drive forward the case for sheep. Meanwhile, the influence of grassroot sheep farmers will continue to influence policy through the regional structure, breed societies and of course the specialist committees.
I will continue to have an involvement as Policy Advisor and see this continuing for a few years. So once again my thanks to you all and my best wishes for the coming season
Yours sincerely
Signed JOHN THORLEY
2nd May 2007
A new initiative to encourage the adoption of sheep flock health planning is led by a steering group comprising the NSA, farmers, vets, the NFU, EBLEX, Defra and an independent sheep adviser.
The National Sheep Association is playing a lead role in the new group, in partnership with Defra, to promote and advise on the delivery of an information transfer programme throughout the second half of 2007 and early 2008. An awareness campaign starts in June at the NSA 'North Sheep' event at Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham on 6 June, followed a week later by a similar presence at NSA Sheep South West at Launceston, Cornwall. The initiative is already sponsoring the Sheep Farmer of the Year Award and has embarked on a year long pilot project of flock health planning involving ten farms in the West Midlands.
Key to the delivery of the initiative is the secondment of a project co-ordinator to the NSA from Defra. Allister Compton, from Defra's executive agency Animal Health (formerly the State Veterinary Service) and previously a commercial sheep farmer, is working on all aspects of the project majoring on communication to the industry.
"It is most welcome that an industry initiative such as this can get government support," says Peter Morris, Chief Executive of the NSA. "This initiative demonstrates how a more sustainable and viable national flock is within reach by adopting simple but effective health planning measures. It meets key objectives in animal health and welfare but does so in tandem with generating economic benefits. It's a real incentive to the industry to improve performance."