The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed the decision by Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths to delay the introduction of Quarantine Units until September.
FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “Over recent weeks we have discussed this issue with Welsh Government officials and the Cabinet Secretary, and she has agreed to delay the replacement of Isolation Facilities with Quarantine Units until Monday 11th September 2017.
“This welcome and pragmatic decision will allow those attending shows and buying breeding animals to carry on using Isolation Facilities under the current rules until that date, thereby minimising the particular problems for those attending summer shows which would otherwise have arisen.”
Isolation Facilities and their associated rules were previously due to be replaced with Quarantine Units on the 12th June 2017.
Announcing the change, Cabinet Secretary Lesley Griffiths said: “Following discussions with key farming and stakeholder organisations over recent days I have decided isolation facilities may continue to be used by livestock keepers for agricultural shows and those wanting to move animals for breeding purposes, until 11th September 2017, when the new legislation on Quarantine Units will come into force.
“I am sure this approach will be of benefit to the agriculture summer shows and to livestock keepers who wish to display their animals at these important rural events.”
Whilst the rules regarding Quarantine Units are stricter than for Isolation Facilities, it will be possible to use Quarantine Units for all animal movements rather than for only breeding and show animals, meaning there will be a way of reducing the impact of the six-day standstill during busy trading periods.
Further details can be found at: http://gov.wales/topics/environmentcountryside/ahw/farmanimaltracing/quarantine-units/?lang=en