NFU in crisis talks with Dutch on calves

The NFU met with Dutch industry colleagues in Amsterdam last Friday (1st August) following their recent decision to suspend imports of UK calves. There was a full and frank exchange of views at the meeting and it very clear that the Dutch have serious concerns about the health status of UK calves and our tracing and ID systems. One of Dutch delegation, a veal producer, said that his unit had been shut down three times in the last year as a result FMD and then TB tracings from the UK.

The NFU team led by Deputy President Meurig Raymond explained our tracing and ID system and we also outlined the current TB situation in the UK. We also told them about our problems with our government refusing to deal with problem of TB in wildlife and the anger and frustration that this is causing to cattle keepers in England.

We agreed that we would work hard over the next few weeks to try and satisfy their concerns about our ID and tracing systems and see if we can provide satisfactory safeguards on calf movements which would allow them reconsider their decision.