Originally from: Farmtalking
                        
The follwing message was received at Farmtalking from the Rev. Pinherton, who many will remember from 2001 – The message was sent to me and FARM and NFU suipporters so I thought it worth publishing here too.

DearFarm or NFU supporters:
As a FARM and NFU associate, I have an area of concern that is causing a lot of difficulty in the cattle livestock community.

Perhaps FARM/NFU members can get behind the issue with some justified support. What is being done for farmers with pedigree breeding stock, who have firm sale orders from Burgundy, France, and have had applications for shipping and export denied?

Fiona and Alan Foster of Etang Fourch 58250 Fous, Burgundy, France, placed a firm order with Bill and Sue Osborn, of Castlemears Dexters, 2 Orchard Cottages, Lydney Park Estate, Glos.,for 1 Prime Bull and 2 heifers. Money was banked.

The Fosters neighbours in France, decided that the stock was so
fine, that they ordered 2 Heifers. The idea they had was to start a perfect high quality foundation herd of Dexter cattle.(they fully understood quarantine regulations)

The local Burgundian dignitaries were most pleased to be welcoming the prospect of such a herd.

On application to DEFRA for the appropriate paperwork for export of pedigree breeding stock to reintroduce Dexter cattle to France, the Osborns ran into a problem area.

"NO LIVE EXPORTS TO FRANCE".

DEFRA was assured the Dexters WERE NOT FOR THE FOOD CHAIN, but for breeding and only for the breeding, of fine livestock from an award winning pedigree line.

To date, applications for assistance have been made to:
DEFRA VETS, GLOUCESTER AND LONDON;TRADING STANDARDS OFFICE,FARM, NFU,MEP,MP; BBC RADIO GLOS;LOCAL PAPERS;RARE BREED SURVIVAL TRUST, MARGARET BECKETT AND THE PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR.

The reason given the Osborn's:

BECAUSE OF EU, BSE REGULATIONS, LIVE BREEDING STOCK EXPORT CANNOT BE ALLOWED FROM UK TO FRANCE.

NOTE:
There has never been a case of BSE detected in a Dexter herd, and also BSE hasn't been found to be hereditary.

The October 1, 2004 issue of Farmer's Guardian states in large type "PORTUGESE BEEF EXPORT RESTRICTION LIFTED".(So where does the UK stand?)

BSE has a higher incident rate in Portugal than in the UK.
Where does the UK stand if the bann is lifted in a country with a worse record of BSE?

With the Castlemears Dexters, we are talking PEDIGREE BREEDING STOCK,-NOT--LIVE EXPORT FOR SLAUGHTER GOING THUS INTO AN EU FOOD CHAIN.

If nobody else is challenging this issue, surely FARM and NFU have a principle to stand on?

Respectfully,
Patricia Pinkerton