Re: Cattle Export Ban

2 messages

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

Originally from: frances fish

This is Defra for you, any way to obstruct and they will, and they wonder why they get no co-operation when they want it ? We should be able to export live cattle now, if the Portuguese can, their incidence of BSE being higher, and ours in the UK alledgely falling rapidly.The reason we can't is that we have not applied, as far as I can tell. Its an absolute disgrace.Why keep the nonsensical OTMS going, do they know something we don't ? Furthermore, Russia is now vaccinating its cattle against bovine TB and slaughtered none in the last year as a result ! To add insult to injury, they are now able to export their dairy products to the EU if they wish but have a right to veto those from any member country they consider has a high incidence of TB and would theoretically pose a risk. Can you guess who is top of their blacklist ? Yes, I would think it is the UK. Why are we at least not trialling vaccination of our herds in hot-spot areas ? Why is vaccination a dirty word unless, of course we are being urged to have our future generations vaccinated with the "oh- so -safe" MMR by this same government? It seems to me that any excuse to kill and they grasp it and pursue it with great enthusiasm. Why is that I wonder ? Is it ignorance or a deliberate policy ? Frances
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