Information for farmers - Exemptions
Isle of Wight
The Commission has been notified that we intend to use the derogation in the EU TSE Regulations that allows Member States not to test cattle in remote areas where there is no collection service and where the cattle population of the derogated area is less than 10% of the total cattle population. As a result, producers on the island will be able to dispose of these animals under the arrangements currently in place for other fallen stock.
All livestock farmers on the island are expected to make all reasonable efforts to comply with the Animal By-Products Regulation and for the local authority to take appropriate enforcement action against those who make no attempt to comply with animal by-products legislation or who wilfully flout alternative controls set down by the local authority.
There is to be no derogation from the Animal By-Products Regulation on the Isle of Wight.
Farmers on the Isle of Wight should make every effort to dispose of their carcases by rendering or incineration in accordance with the Animal By-Products Regulations. However, where burial appears to be the only option, until further notice, farmers may in appropriate cases bury carcases provided
they comply with the controls set down by the Isle of Wight Local Authority Trading Standards Service and speak to the Environment Agency (0845 933 3111) before undertaking the burial to ensure that the proposed burial site is suitable.
- A copy of the letter sent to all Cattle Keepers on the Isle of Wight is available here.
Scotland BSE surveillance exempt zones
To meet our EU obligations it will be necessary to apply the surveillance requirements to all parts of the UK serviced by the commercial collection network. Consequently, the requirement to despatch bovine fallen stock aged over 48 months for BSE testing will apply to all cattle keepers on the Scottish mainland (including those in the designated remote areas defined in the Animal By-Products (Scotland) Regulations 2003 and on the Isles of Bute and Skye.
Scottish Islands
From 1 January 2009
- The BSE testing age is increased to over 48 months both for animals intended for human consumption and fallen stock.
- Therefore up to 11 January you need only notify fallen stock aged over 48 months to the TSE Surveillance Helpline (0800 525890).
You must make your own arrangements to dispose of fallen stock aged up to 48 months but they do not require to be tested for BSE at a sampling site. On farm disposal ie burial or open burning is permissible.
From 12 January 2009
- The free collection and disposal of fallen stock under BSE surveillance arrangements (ie freezer wagon service or RPA appointed contractor) will end.
- You must make your own arrangements to dispose of bovine fallen stock but they do not require to be tested for BSE. On farm disposal ie burial or open burning is permissible.
- Return the cattle passport direct to BCMS.
- If you have opted to retain any cattle born or imported into the UK before 1 August 1996 for business reasons they will need to be disposed of as fallen stock, when they die or reach the end of their productive lives. They do not need to be tested for BSE in your area after 11 January 2009. They must not be sold for human consumption. It remains an offence to consign pre August 1996 born cattle to a fresh meat abattoir.
More Information
Further infomation is available on the Scottish Government website.