Action on illegal moves to sell older cattle to food chain

A GOVERNMENT investigation has revealed some cattle producers have been selling their older stock into the food chain in contravention of regulations brought in two decades ago to control the spread of BSE.

Yesterday the UK government moved quickly to ban off-farm movement of any cattle born before August 1996 to prevent any further breaking of the law, with agriculture minister Jim Paice stating: "I regret that due to what appears to be illegal activity by a few individuals, this has been necessary."

Around 18,000 livestock keepers across Britain are believed to hold animals of this age and they have been informed by Defra that they will not be allowed to move the cattle from their holdings without an individual movement licence.

No licences will be granted to move these cattle to market or through dealers. In practice, it is anticipated that this will affect a relatively small number of owners.

Scotland's rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead pointed to the ever-diminishing number of animals in the pre-1996 category, and the fact that, as these older cattle have no commercial value when they reach the end of their calf-producing lives, very few of them are currently moved from their holdings.

"However, in order to build on the hard-won and deserved reputation that our beef has achieved over recent years, these movement restrictions are an entirely sensible extra safeguard against these animals entering the food chain that shouldn't impact too much on cattle owners and keepers who currently hold these older animals."

NFU Scotland president Nigel Miller described the movement ban as "a timely reminder for all cattle keepers that these older animals are permanently excluded from the food chain. Presentation of these animals at a food chain abattoir is an offence".

Miller, a qualified vet, added that the Food Standards Agency advice was that if one of these older animals were to enter the food chain then the risk to the public would be very low.

He pointed to the very strict controls and protection measures remain in place at all UK slaughterhouses, including BSE testing and removal of all risk materials.

"The additional restriction on the movement of older cattle is an extra precautionary measure that will underpin the traceability of our beef."