BSE status for NI officially changed

The BSE risk status for beef from NI has officially changed from controlled risk to negligible risk from today (Thursday).

Although NI was approved for the lowest-risk BSE status by the World Organisation for Animal Health in May, the change could not be applied until European Commission officials met and a standing committee of member states rubber stamped the decision.

The change in BSE status reduces the volume of the beef carcase that requires rendering by around 60%, with previous estimates forecasting potential savings of around £1.2m per year in NI, worth around £3 per head in reduced kill charges.

The longer-term benefit is the improved reputation of NI beef in international markets and the potential boost to trade, previously estimated at £12m per year.

Scotland joins NI today as the first regions of the UK to achieve negligible risk status. “This is a landmark day for our red meat sector,” Scotland’s Rural Secretary Fergus Ewing said.

UFU committed to second court case

Funds have been committed by the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) for a second judicial review with DAERA over the department’s refusal to change the classification of a cross-compliance breach by former UFU president Ian Marshall.

“We are prepared to spend whatever it takes to challenge this grossly unfair decision,” UFU chief executive Wesley Aston said.

A previous judicial review was heard in the High Court in Belfast last September and ruled in favour of the UFU in February, finding that how DAERA arrived at its final decision was unlawful.

However, while the department has since revisited its decision, it has still come to the same conclusion, that pollution on the Marshall farm was intentional, not negligent.

“DAERA seems more concerned about falling foul of the European Commission over a minor error by a farmer than it is about wasting taxpayers’ money on a fresh legal case,” responded Aston.

EFS wider-level deadline next week

Farmers who received an offer of an agreement under the wider level of the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) have until midnight on Monday (31 July) to accept.

A DAERA spokesperson said on Monday that 430 of the 1,393 agreements issued, had not yet been viewed.

“We would urge farmers not to wait until the last minute to view or accept their offer. Go online now to view your agreement document and associated terms and conditions of the scheme,” the spokesperson said.