Saturday 26 May 2012
Headlines
Did you find this story interesting? (0) (0)
25/11/2005
European farmers warned: electric fence standards proposal could quadruple costs, endanger lives
Farmers in the European Union could face quadrupled costs - and people will ironically run greater safety risks - if a proposed new standard for electric fence energizers is adopted.
A French and a German manufacturer are pushing for the maximum power of electric fence energizers to be reduced to 5 joules across 28 European countries.
The same proposal was rejected overwhelmingly by the International Electrotechnical Commission subcommittee for farm electrical appliances, when it last met at Sydney in November 2004.
However, it is now before the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC). It is expected to go to a paper vote shortly, but without Europe's farmers being consulted first.
The move is seen as a bid to block competition from medium to high-powered energizer technology from New Zealand and other countries.
Gallagher and Tru-Test, of New Zealand, are major players in the world and European electric fence markets and both are now lobbying hard to avoid the proposed new trade barrier.
New Zealand's Federated Farmers organisation is warning its European counterparts that if the move to introduce a technical barrier to trade succeeds under a "safety guise", then all farms larger than 30 acres will not be able to operate electric fences from a single energizer source.
According to Gallagher, a world leading electric fence technology company of Hamilton, New Zealand, the proposed new standard would increase the cost of installing energizers and solar panels on a 200 acre European farm from 1135 euros to 4500, a 400% rise. This does not count significant labour costs.
"It's obvious why some have launched this sneak attack to change the standards," says Gallagher Group CEO Bill Gallagher. "Some want to sell more of their out-of-date technology."
And he warns that any lowering of fence power will actually create greater safety risks, both on and off the farm:
. A 5-joule energizer would require a 200-acre farm to be divided
into four zones, with at least four energizers to give equivalent containment in all seasons.
. Lower energizer power would increase the risk of more stock
getting onto roads
Gallagher says during 2002 in Germany alone there were nine deaths and 308 serious injuries caused by traffic accidents with non-feral livestock on roads.
"Some of these stock-on-road related accidents could have been prevented by more effective electric fences. There have been no deaths caused directly by electric fences recorded in Germany in the past 10 years."
Gallagher says 9-joule energizers were introduced 26 years ago and more than 300,000 are installed around the world. Ten years ago a 26-joule energizer was introduced and more than 26,000 are in service. Almost one third of these are in use in Europe.
"These ultra high powered energizers have a perfect safety record. Imagine if everyone had to replace them because it suddenly became illegal to have anything above five joules. It would be hugely costly to European farmers," Gallagher says.
New Zealand Federated Farmers' national president Charlie Pedersen has written to leaders of farmer organisations in Europe warning them of the proposed change.
He urges them to lobby the electrotechnical committees in their own countries.
"It seems to me the 30 year-old technology you will be forced to adopt closely relates to the systems the French market in Europe now," Pedersen says. "As a fellow farmer I know the economic benefit the new higher powered energizers have brought to my farm. We now have only one energizer that has replaced four older (ones) and keep all cattle controlled with a single wire, in a pastoral feeding situation."
He says it's "sad" that most CENELEC country-based committees will be voting on the issue later this year, or early in 2006, "without any farmer organisation input".
A French and a German manufacturer are pushing for the maximum power of electric fence energizers to be reduced to 5 joules across 28 European countries.
The same proposal was rejected overwhelmingly by the International Electrotechnical Commission subcommittee for farm electrical appliances, when it last met at Sydney in November 2004.
However, it is now before the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC). It is expected to go to a paper vote shortly, but without Europe's farmers being consulted first.
The move is seen as a bid to block competition from medium to high-powered energizer technology from New Zealand and other countries.
Gallagher and Tru-Test, of New Zealand, are major players in the world and European electric fence markets and both are now lobbying hard to avoid the proposed new trade barrier.
New Zealand's Federated Farmers organisation is warning its European counterparts that if the move to introduce a technical barrier to trade succeeds under a "safety guise", then all farms larger than 30 acres will not be able to operate electric fences from a single energizer source.
According to Gallagher, a world leading electric fence technology company of Hamilton, New Zealand, the proposed new standard would increase the cost of installing energizers and solar panels on a 200 acre European farm from 1135 euros to 4500, a 400% rise. This does not count significant labour costs.
"It's obvious why some have launched this sneak attack to change the standards," says Gallagher Group CEO Bill Gallagher. "Some want to sell more of their out-of-date technology."
And he warns that any lowering of fence power will actually create greater safety risks, both on and off the farm:
. A 5-joule energizer would require a 200-acre farm to be divided
into four zones, with at least four energizers to give equivalent containment in all seasons.
. Lower energizer power would increase the risk of more stock
getting onto roads
Gallagher says during 2002 in Germany alone there were nine deaths and 308 serious injuries caused by traffic accidents with non-feral livestock on roads.
"Some of these stock-on-road related accidents could have been prevented by more effective electric fences. There have been no deaths caused directly by electric fences recorded in Germany in the past 10 years."
Gallagher says 9-joule energizers were introduced 26 years ago and more than 300,000 are installed around the world. Ten years ago a 26-joule energizer was introduced and more than 26,000 are in service. Almost one third of these are in use in Europe.
"These ultra high powered energizers have a perfect safety record. Imagine if everyone had to replace them because it suddenly became illegal to have anything above five joules. It would be hugely costly to European farmers," Gallagher says.
New Zealand Federated Farmers' national president Charlie Pedersen has written to leaders of farmer organisations in Europe warning them of the proposed change.
He urges them to lobby the electrotechnical committees in their own countries.
"It seems to me the 30 year-old technology you will be forced to adopt closely relates to the systems the French market in Europe now," Pedersen says. "As a fellow farmer I know the economic benefit the new higher powered energizers have brought to my farm. We now have only one energizer that has replaced four older (ones) and keep all cattle controlled with a single wire, in a pastoral feeding situation."
He says it's "sad" that most CENELEC country-based committees will be voting on the issue later this year, or early in 2006, "without any farmer organisation input".
No Comments
Nobody has posted any comments on this story.
|
Farming items for Sale
|
Ford 3930 1996 model - Redlynch
(Price on Application)
(Price on Application)
Used Mccormick XTX 200 - YORK(GBP 23500)
John Deere - 7530 TRACTOR 2010 - Norwich
(Price on Application)
(Price on Application)
John Deere 1040 - Ormskirk(GBP 4500)
Massey Ferguson 3080 - Pocklington(GBP 6000)
Related News
Potentially Deadly 'Safety' Proposal For Electric Fences Should Go To WTO Members For Consultation - 16 Jan 2006A proposed change to safety standards for electric fences in the European Union should be notified to the World Trade Organisation. The change, bei...
NFU outraged by electric fencing output restriction proposals - 30 Aug 2006NFU has reacted angrily to the EU proposal to restrict electric fencing energiser output to five joules as it could have a serious impact on animal he...
Electric fencing current winner - 18 Mar 2004Over 80 per cent of livestock farmers have electric fencing – and its biggest job is to manage grass utilisation… and enable strip grazing. That’s th...
Advanced electric fencing system now available in UK - 04 Jun 2007A new high-power, versatile electric fencing system is now available in the UK exclusively from KiwiKit . KiwiKit is a company committed to supplyi...
Tape, Wire or Rope for your Electric Fencing? - 27 Sep 2010Electric fencing tape has long been the recognised barrier for horses due to its high visibility, however tape structures vary so much, the number and...
HSE warns employers after two Norfolk teenagers seriously injured by electric shocks - 14 Oct 2009The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned companies to ensure they look after young workers, after two Norfolk teenagers suffered electric shoc...
Don’t sit on the fence, AHDA warns industry by-standers - 25 Sep 2007Manufacturers and distributors of animal health products should lend far greater support to the industry organisation which represents their interests...
Fuel cost increases will hit hard, warns Framlingham Farmers - 08 Dec 2006The increases in duty on gas oil and derv announced by the Chancellor in his Pre- Budget Statement this week will add £237,500 to the cost of fuel pur...
European Union-Red tape will cost farmers. - 13 Feb 2009EUROPEAN UNION. The cost of producing pigs and poultry could soar if the European Union agrees to overzealous proposals on pollution, the NFU has war...
Brazil-Double standards imposed by European Union. - 08 Feb 2009BRAZIL-ITS AN ILL WIND THAT BLOWS NO GOOD. A year ago the Irish farm Associations and the English NFU were gloating about the ban on Brazilian bee...
