Opportunities to lower emissions

Making improvements to the breeding, diet and health of livestock will be important for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in NI, according to a report submitted to DAERA this week. The Committee on Climate Change, a group made up of experts from scientific and economic backgrounds, was asked by DAERA in July 2018 to produce a report on reducing GHG emissions in NI.

In its response published on Monday, the group highlights that policies for NI should be different from the rest of the UK.

It states that agriculture accounts for 30% of GHG emissions in NI, compared with 10% in the UK, and the farming industry in NI is also more livestock-based.

The report forecasts that improvements to cattle health could reduce emissions, in addition to additives in diets and selective breeding.

The group also recommends an increased rate of afforestation, restoration of peatlands and wider use of renewable energy as measures to reduce GHG emissions in NI.

Agri suppliers receive improvement notice

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate issued improvement notices to three agricultural suppliers in NI over the past week.

Taggart Jack in Ardstraw was found to have veterinary products not stored at the correct temperature, some prescription-only medicines were available to customers for self-selection, and batch numbers of some medicines were not noted in sales records.

APG Supplies and Services in Enniskillen was found to have an unauthorised veterinary medicine, namely the wormer Parakill, advertised for sale online and in-store.

An improvement notice was issued to Aurivo’s store in Omagh after it was found to have inadequate records on the supply of prescription-only medicines.