Assembly move to defer certificates of competence welcomed

NFU Cymru has welcomed the Welsh Assembly Government's decision to defer the need for animal transport certificates of competence from January 2008 to April 2008.

Dai Davies, NFU Cymru President said, "This is an issue I have raised at the last two foot and mouth disease stakeholder meetings with the Minister for Rural Affairs. Clearly, the deferral buys the industry nothing but time, since anyone involved in the commercial transport of farm livestock over 65km will still be required to hold a certificate after April 2008. But at least farmers won't have this worry heaped on top of all the other troubles they are currently facing in dealing with the ramifications of the foot and mouth outbreak in Surrey.

"Frankly, I can't see the need for the tests at all, particularly given the more relaxed approach to this EC requirement taken by some other countries. Nonetheless, this provides the industry with some much needed space at the moment and I am grateful that the Welsh Assembly is providing some latitude."