Licence - Animal Movement

Description

In the aftermath of the Foot and Mouth outbreak a rigorous regime of licensing controlling the movement of a range of animals has been introduced. The most common animal movements that need to be licensed are sheep, pigs and cows.

The conditions which apply to these movements vary according to the type of animal, the destination and the type of trip. In addition, these conditions are constantly being altered and so it is important that you make yourself aware of the latest conditions when applying for a movement licence.

Eligibility

This applies to anyone intending to move animals covered by the licensing arrangements. The most common being sheep, pigs and cows.

Procedure

In certain conditions all that is necessary is for you to complete the licence and forward the copies as laid down. The licences can be obtained from your local DEFRA (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs) office. All the information regarding the conditions are available on the DEFRA website (see associated links).

Helplines

Regulatory Services, Animal Health (01226) 772532/ 773860

DEFRA 01132 300100

Opening Times/Locations

Opening times and location map, click link for further information.

How the customer can help

Your request for information or complaint should include the following information:

• Your full name, address and contact details
• Name and address of business or premise concerned if different from above
• As much relevant detail about the enquiry or complaint as possible, for example:
  • Dates
  • Times
  • Descriptions
  • Sequence of events
• Any action taken by you, or contact made with the business or premises concerned
• Any information you have already managed to obtain

Leaflets

Rules for Livestock Movements

Distribution Points

Available from the Defra website (see associated links, or helplines for the Defra contact number)

Legislation

The following list provides some of the most relevant. Please refer to the Defra website for a full update (see Associated Links)

• The Animal Gatherings (England) Order 2004
• The Animal Gatherings (England) Order 2003
• The Transport of Animals (Cleansing and Disinfection) (England) (No 3) 2003
• The Disease Control (England) Order 2003

Response Times/Next Steps

An initial response will be provided within 5 working days

Owner Officer Contact Details

Animal Health Officer
3rd Floor,
Central Offices,
Kendray Street,
Barnsley,
S70 2TN.

Telephone Number:- 01225 772532/ 773860

Frequently Asked Questions

Q How long will the regime last?

A The rules, which apply from 1 August 2003, constitute the Standing Movements Regime. It has no expiry date.

Q What happens if I break the rules?

A Inspectors will make random checks to make sure the conditions of the General Licence are being met. If they find that you are breaking these rules your right to move animals under the General Licence could be suspended. If this happens you will have to apply for Individual Movement Licenses before you move animals. If you are breaking the rules then you are committing a criminal offence and could be prosecuted.

Q Why are movement controls still needed if the UK is FMD - free?

A There is still a risk that disease will enter the country. The rules now in place are there to protect against the rapid spread of any new insertion of disease, not to deal with the aftermath of the 2001 FMD outbreak

Q How can I get hold of a copy of a General Licence?

A Copies are available from the Movement documents page on the DEFRA website and are also available, on request, from the Animal Health Divisional Offices (please see Associated Links)

Q Does a copy of the General Licence need to accompany animals when they are moved?

A No. But farmers have to notify cattle movements to the BCMS within 3 days see Associated Links). Sheep, goat, pig and deer movements have to be notified to local authorities within 3 days using the appropriate movement documents

Q What are the exemptions to the 6 day standstill?

A The following movements are exempt from the 6 day standstill:

Individually identified breeding rams and bulls attending a sale between 1 August and 30 November are exempt from any 6 day standstill on their home premises as long as they have been placed in a Defra approved isolation facility for six days. They may not share this facility with animals being isolated for any other purpose. The animals must spend 6 days in the isolation facility before they can be presented at a further sale or move for any other purpose. To qualify for the exemption the person sending the animals to the market/sale must send a declaration to the local authority certifying that the animals are intended for sale for breeding purposes. If approved isolation facilities are not available, a whole farm 6 day standstill must be observed before the animals leave and when they return.

Individually identified breeding goats of either gender will not trigger a six day standstill on premises to which they are moved for breeding provided that they respect any standstill or are isolated for six days in a Defra approved isolation facility before they leave the premises of departure. If approved isolation facilities are not available a whole farm 6 day standstill must be observed before the animals leave and when they return. Otherwise they may go into isolation on return, and thus not trigger a six day standstill. They may return to the same breeding premises during the six day isolation period on their home premises, but must go into isolation for six days on return from the final visit. To qualify for the exemption the recipient of the goats must send a declaration to the local authority certifying that the animals are intended to be used for breeding on those premises.

Individually identified cattle, sheep and goats attending a show are exempt from the 6 day standstill provided that they are isolated from all non-show animals for 6 days on their resident holding in Defra-approved isolation facility before attending the first show. They can then move from show to show without triggering a standstill and return home between shows and move to a further show within 6 days provided they are isolated. When they return to their resident holding for the last time they will trigger a 6 day standstill on the premises unless they are isolated for 6 days. Any cattle, sheep or goats that are sold at a show will trigger a 6 day standstill at the premises of destination.

Movements to a slaughterhouse, whether direct from the farm, via a collecting centre or dedicated slaughter market, are not prevented by any standstill on the farm of origin. Returns from slaughterhouses, dedicated slaughter markets or collecting centres are not permitted.

Cattle, sheep and goats moved to and from a veterinary treatment centre or to a laboratory for diagnostic tests are not subject to the 6 day standstill before or after moving. At the treatment centre the animal has to be isolated.

Movements to and from an Artificial Insemination Centre. Sheep and goats have to be kept in isolation for 6 days before moving to the centre and on return to take advantage of this exemption. The isolation requirement does not apply to cattle and pigs.

Sole Occupancy Authorities (SOA's). Movements between premises linked by a SOA do not trigger a standstill. However, a movement of cattle, sheep or goats onto any of the SOA premises from outside the SOA grouping prevents animals from moving off any of the SOA premises to a destination outside that SOA grouping for 6 days. If the animal moving on is a pig, no other pigs may move off for 20 days; cattle, sheep and goats may not be moved off for 6 days

Movements of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs to and from common land continue to be exempt from standstill.

In emergencies, such as flooding, Defra Divisional Veterinary managers will be able to authorise exceptions to the standstill for essential moves.

Q Which moves are banned?

A The following movements are banned:

• From market to market
• From market to collecting centre
• From collecting centre to market
• From collecting centre to collecting centre
• From dedicated slaughter market to any premises other than a slaughterhouse
• From slaughterhouse to any premises

Q If I already have Defra-approved isolation facilities from last year, will I need further LVI inspections before I can use them?

A If you already have a Defra approved isolation facility or had one immediately prior to 4 March 2003 then you will not need to have it re-approved provided that the conditions of the unit have not changed. If you would like to have one or more Defra approved isolation facilities on your farm, or if you are in any doubt that your isolation facility meets the conditions of approval, please contact your local Animal Health Office.

Q Can I use my Private Veterinary Surgeon (PVS) approved breeding isolation facility this year?

A Yes you can. However, you must contact your local Animal Health Office before you do so

Q Will my PVS approved breeding isolation facility need to be re-inspected?

A The first thing to do is to contact your local Animal Health Office who will decide whether your facility needs to be re-inspected or not. If it does need to be re-inspected, you will not be charged for the inspection

Q How will the standstill work if I have pigs and other livestock on my premises?

A Pigs will continue to trigger a 20 day standstill on other pigs when they move onto a premise. However, from 1 August 2003 they will only trigger a 6 day standstill on any cattle, sheep or goats on that premises. Cattle, sheep and goats moving onto a premises will impose a 6 day standstill on any pig, cattle, sheep or goats on that premises. The 20 day standstill for pigs remains necessary for the control of swine vesicular disease

Q What about moves between England and Scotland, where the standstill regimes are different?

A Movements into Scotland should be accompanied by the AML form. A copy will be sent by the destination holding to the Scottish Animal Movements Unit (SAMU), SEERAD

Movements out of Scotland. If you receive stock from Scotland you must complete the appropriate AML form and send it to your local authority within 3 days.

Q Where can I get more information?

• From the booklets sent by Defra to every livestock keeper
• From a special helpline 0845 0504141 (Opening hours - 8am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday and 9am til 1pm on Saturday)
• From local Animal Health Divisional Offices (see Helplines)
• Or contact the Defra Helpline (see Helplines)

Related Links:

• DEFRA
• Animal Health Division
• BCMS