Mart trading practices are set for significant changes under new licencing proposals set to come into effect on 1 January 2019.
The standout changes include a ban on trading calves less than 10 days of age, a rule that is also set to be implemented in farm-to-farm sales, and a ban on the use of sticks where dealing with calves less than 42 days of age.
There are a number of new components which marts must comply with under the proposals.
These changes are described by the Department of Agriculture as being in the final stages of agreement and were presented to mart managers and representatives at a seminar held at the Department’s Backweston facility on Friday.
The main new trading components presented by the Department of Agriculture were:
Enforcement
There must also be specific members of staff assignedresponsibility to ensure that the mart meets these requirements across three distinct areas:
1) Animal health and welfare
2) Traceability of livestock to and from the mart premises
3) Cleaning, disinfection and sanitation of the mart.
Monitoring of these three areas must be documented, with an annual audit undertaken and a written assessment completed by the individual in charge. The same person can be responsible for all three while a code of conduct for all mart personal must also be developed.
Licence approval
Licences will be awarded for a fixed period, with a reapplication and approvals process required to renew the licence.
Marts not meeting the required criteria can have their licence revoked or renewal denied. There will also also a fixed penalty notice system, with a proposed fine of €250 for non-compliances identified.
This was another proposal that was met with opposition from managers present on Friday. The Department moved to allay fears and said that the fixed-penalty notices would only be implemented where marts had made no attempts to comply with the respective criteria.
Summing up why these changes are being introduced, the Department said it wants to ensure the strong standards that marts currently implement are continued and enhanced to showcase the good animal welfare practices in place.