Farmer Convicted At Downpatrick Court

Mr Stevenson pleaded guilty and was fined £1,200 plus £19 costs. The two charges of failure to comply with restrictions imposed by Article 5 of the Disease Control (Standstill) Order (NI) 2004, in that he moved livestock from a holding in relation to which other livestock had made a relevant movement during the previous six days contrary to Article 52 (1)(a) of the Diseases of Animals (NI) Order 1981. One charge was in contravention of Regulation 3 (1)(f) of the Cattle Identification (Enforcement) Regulations (NI) 1998, and he failed to produce a register for his herd contrary to Regulation (1) of the Cattle Identification (Enforcement) Regulations (NI) 1998. The Standstill measures were brought into place as one of the ‘lessons learned’ following the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in 2001. The measures were introduced to prevent animals which were in the early stages of the disease, and capable of spreading the disease, but which were not showing clinical signs of the disease from moving on to other premises and causing a greater spread of the disease. The standstill period is for a period of six days which gives time for animals infected with the disease to show clinical signs. The Foot and Mouth disease outbreak in 2001 was a devastating outbreak which caused untold misery to farmers and billions of pounds to the agri-food, agri-tourism and associated industries. Properly maintained herd registers form an integral part of animal traceability, supporting the accuracy and integrity of the Department’s Animal and Public Health Information System (APHIS).]]>