Sheep sales resume under strict supervision

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Bríd Rodgers, has announced her intention to permit the farm-to-farm collection of livestock and the resumption of commercial sheep sales under strict veterinary supervision.

Mrs Rodgers said that the time was now right to permit further sale activities which had been prohibited in Northern Ireland since March of this year.

With effect from Monday September 3, the Minister said she would relax restrictions imposed following the foot-and-mouth outbreak in February.

She said: "I am glad to say that there have been no further foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in Northern Ireland since the Spring. Since extensive blood testing of over 430,000 sheep has shown no signs that the virus is present here, I am prepared to allow commercial sheep sales to resume under strict conditions.

“First of all, all sales will have to be held on approved premises and under the supervision of DARD officials. Second, all sheep travelling to or from the sales will have to be correctly identified and accompanied by a specific movement licence. Third, premises used for sheep sales will not be able to be used again the same day for sales of cattle, pigs etc and will have to be cleansed and disinfected thoroughly before being used again for any purpose."

The Minister added that farm to farm collections of livestock would again be permitted but that the hauliers concerned would have to be specifically licensed and would be expected to maintain the very highest levels of biosecurity.

The Department will amend the conditions of licenses issued to hauliers to require them to apply disease control measures when arriving on or leaving a farm. It will also be developing a fortress farming code of practice in conjunction with the relevant sectors of the industry. (CD)