North Wales farmers currently being left stranded without an outlet for fallen stock proves NFU Cymru’s firm contention that a fall back contingency plan must be available to the industry to alleviate its vulnerability to flaws in the fallen stock recovery system.
Dai Davies, President NFU Cymru said, “NFU Cymru has been impressing upon the Welsh Assembly Government and the enforcement agencies since the introduction of the Animal By-product Regulations the need for a contingency plan in the event of a collector being unable, for whatever reason, to collect fallen stock. With the suspension of operations at Cluttons Agricultural Ltd, which services the whole of North Wales, farmers are effectively being left completely high and dry by the system.
“It is totally unacceptable that putrefying carcases should, particularly at this time of year, be left on-farm to decompose with no time table for their collection.”
Mr Davies continued, “With many schools on half term it is inevitable that North Wales will be a honey pot for tourists, many of whom, will stay on farm. It is a disgrace that nothing tangible is being done by the authorities to immediately address a problem that was realised last Thursday. I have already drawn my profound concern to the attention of the Minister and sought an immediate derogation to permit burial under these exceptional circumstances.”