NORTHERN IRELAND.
FARMERS IN COURT OVER DIOXINS IN CATTLE FEED.
Cattle farmers in Northern Ireland whose herds were given contaminated feed will go out of business unless they receive compensation, the High Court heard yesterday, according to the Belfast Telegraph.
With restrictions imposed on eight farms to stop their meat entering the food chain, some of those affected want the Government to pay them the value of their animals.
The Stormont Executive has agreed to introduce a cull and disposal scheme to remove the animals. But it will only pay for the slaughter and rendering of the cattle, at a cost of up to £4m.
The owners of five herds are seeking to judicially review the joint ministerial position in a bid to receive pay-outs to cope with what their barrister described as "dire circumstances".
Martin McDonnell told the High Court: "In view of the numbers of animals involved that obviously would mean the end of the line for all of these farmers because that’s their sole means of livelihood."
The dioxin scare which broke out late last year has been blamed on unlicensed oil used at an animal feed factory in the Irish Republic.
Ireland’s pork meat sector was plunged into crisis and the alert spread to cattle when the Food Standards Agency confirmed eight herds had tested positive for contamination. According to the Department of Agriculture, however, farmers in Northern Ireland should have access to a compensation scheme being run south of the border. David McMillen, appearing for the Department, told the court: "What we are putting forward is a voluntary culling scheme and it’s entirely up to the applicants whether they want to enter into it."
The judge adjourned the application for leave to seek a judicial review until next week