A lack of communication surrounding new EU export checks coupled with the ongoing vet shortages could lead to winter food supplies being compromised, the farming industry has this week warned.
The caution has been issued by the NFU and the BVA ahead of the rule change which comes into force in under five months.
Following months of delay, as of December 13, anyone selling an animal or part of an animal for export must be in possession of a Statutory Health Attestation. According to Defra, the purpose of the new rule is to comply with the EU Export Health Certificate (EHC) which requires the animal’s farm of origin to prove it has undergone regular visits by a veterinary surgeon in order to verify the absence of any notifiable diseases.
However, there are now fears that farmers and processors may not be ready to meet the deadline fuelling fears of supply chain issues as farmers battle further red tape and the scramble to secure a vet visit.
NFU livestock board chair Richard Findlay has campaigned extensively for the process to remain under farmer declaration and said he feared the Government was not doing enough to make farmers aware of possible problems.
“This additional level of red tape will only serve to add an unnecessary burden to an already stretched veterinary sector, and pile on further costs to farmers who are already struggling with soaring fertiliser, feed, and fuel prices.”
Concern
Mr Findlay added: “It could seriously impact the livestock sector’s ability to produce affordable red meat, at a time when access to affordable, nutritious, sustainable food is vitally important to people at home and abroad.”
BVA president Malcolm Morley said: “[We] are seriously concerned new attestation rules, which farmers will need to follow to meet export requirements from December, could exacerbate existing veterinary workforce shortages. It is, therefore, vital farmers take immediate action to complete attestations early to avoid end-of-year delays.”
Mr. Morley commented that he was assured Defra would be issuing guidance that would ensure farmers took ‘swift action’. However, he added: “The Government must prioritize the introduction of digital systems to simplify and speed up the process of passing attestations from certifying vets to farmers to the moment of export.”
A Defra spokesperson said the changes were now an EU mandatory requirement and that farmers should make preparations if they had not already done so.
“We are continuing to work with industry – including the BVA and NFU – to help minimize disruption, but we encourage farmers to start organizing and keep records of veterinary visits now if they are not already part of an accredited assurance scheme or taking part in an annual health and welfare review as part of our Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.”
