25/07/2003

Animal recovery scheme for farmers goes ahead

Animal Health Minister Ben Bradshaw today announced that a UK national scheme to recover dead animals from farmland is set to go ahead.

The voluntary scheme, which has support from key livestock organisations and the devolved authorities, will be jointly financed by subscriptions from farmers and government.

Defra and the devolved administrations have reaffirmed their commitment to making a contribution of up to £10 million in the first year to get the scheme up and running and further reduced contributions over the next two years.

And in order for the scheme to begin as soon as possible, it has been agreed that a company, limited by guarantee, should run the scheme. There will be members from both government and industry on the company's board.

Under the scheme, which covers all farmed livestock, producers with small numbers of livestock will pay £50 per year, medium sized producers £100, large producers £350 and the very largest producers will be asked to pay £1,000.

NFU deputy President Tim Bennett welcomed the move, saying: “The NFU believes that this scheme is the best deal available for the industry.

“We are delighted that the whole industry has been able to come together to agree this.

“It could save producers a great deal of money in the long term. Without the scheme, farmers would have been left with the entire bill for removal of their stock.”

Until the scheme is up and running in January 2004, producers need to continue to make their own arrangements to dispose of fallen stock, according to the law.

(GMcG)

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