ICSA calls for review of regulations imposed during-foot-and-mouth crisis
President Malcolm Thompson said many of these rules and regulations were ‘fire-fighting’ reactions which were very necessary at the time but should now be modified or completely scrapped.
“These rules wormed their way in the back door unopposed and have now become part and parcel of unnecessary regulation,” Mr Thompson said.
The ICSA has always insisted that regulation, in order to be successful, must stand the test of common sense and efficiency in delivering the desired end result.
He cited the sheep export regulations, the sheep tagging regime and the cattle movement permits as examples of unworkable regulations.
“Sheep destined for slaughter in Northern Ireland are subjected to a most insensible inspection process which is detrimental to the sheep and hugely costly also in terms of human resource,” he said.
Mr Thompson said cattle cards from a “locked-up herd” of a beef finisher should be returned to the farmer stamped “for slaughter only”.
“This would cut out lots of unnecessary paper work both for the farmer and for the Department of Agriculture officials,” he said.
On other regulations, Mr Thompson argued that the 30-month rule should at least be extended to 36 months and beef bulls destined for slaughter should not be the subject of a brucellosis test.
“We need to achieve the same standards in the most efficient way possible,” he said, adding that cumbersome and unnecessary regulation does nothing for the morale of farmers in these difficult times.
