EFSIS welcomes end to over thirty months rule

EFSIS-FABBL, the industry's own farm assurance specialist, welcomes the government's decision to end the OTMS scheme from 7 November.

"This is a great opportunity for the UK beef and dairy sectors," says Chris Reading, EFSIS-FABBL General Manager of Agriculture UK. "It means that dairy producers and suckler cow producers will be able to get their cow beef back into the market, providing a valuable contribution to the profitability of their business at a time of tight margins."

Many dairy farmers are already covered by EFSIS-FABBL assurance for beef and the opportunity to sell cull cows without additional assurance costs for them.

Suckler herd beef producers will, at last, have a potentially profitable route to the market for their cull cows, with low-cost, low-hassle beef assurance available from EFSIS-FABBL.

Around 2000 dairy farmers are already assured for beef by EFSIS-FABBL. "I can reassure them that they are already covered by the inspection we've done for beef," says Chris Reading. "EFSIS won't charge them a penny extra to cover the beef from their dairy herd if it is on the same holding as their beef enterprise."

EFSIS-FABBL can combine inspection for beef with schemes in every sector of agriculture including inspection and certification to the National Dairy Farm Assurance Scheme.

"For suckler cow producers the best way to be credible in the beef market is EFSIS-FABBL beef assurance," says Chris Reading. "We're advising suckler cow producers to get assured as quickly as possible."

"UK agriculture has been successful in the fight against BSE, with a constant decline in cases over the past ten years," he continued. "The end of the OTMS scheme is another reminder that British beef is among the safest in the world. It lifts a ban on a business which has an important role to play in the economy of many farms."