Marts must have a licence showing they comply with updated regulations from 1 January 2019, according to the Animal Health and Welfare (Livestock Marts) Regulations enacted by Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed last April.

The regulations bring together existing hygiene, welfare and waste management measures with new requirements such as a ban on the sale of calves under 10 days of age and on the use of sticks around calves under 42 days of age.

Other requirements include the availability of isolated pens to separate sick or injured animals, and the mart's responsibility to check that vehicles used to take animals away from the mart are fit for livestock transport and can be disinfected on site.

Marts must draw up and maintain documents to prove that they have everything in place to comply with these obligations, including facilities and adequately trained staff.

Minister's power

"The minister may grant a livestock marts licence, attach conditions to a livestock marts licence, suspend, revoke or vary a condition, attach a new condition, refuse an application, suspend or revoke a livestock marts licence," the regulations state.

Some non-compliances such as using a stick on young calves carry a fine of up to €5,000 or up to six months' imprisonment, while the most serious offences under the new regulations including operating a mart without a licence are punishable by fines of up to €250,000 or a maximum of five years in prison.

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