FARMERS caught using animal growth promoters will be disqualified from
receiving EC headage payments under a new hormones crack-down unveiled
in Brussels yesterday.
Producers will be asked to sign a written statement when applying for
premiums, undertaking not to use the banned substances.
Announcing the crack-down, EC Farm Commissioner Rene Steichen admitted
that despite a blanket hormones ban in place since 1988, abuse is
widespread in all 12 member States.
He said random inspections at slaughterhouses would in future be
accompanied by targetted inspections of farms where fattening is the
main activity -- in other words high risk farms. A total ban on
beta-agonists will also be introduced, the Commissioner said.
A number of drugs such as clenbuterol, otherwise known as Angel Dust,
are currently allowed for theraputic use, but even these will be banned
in future.
The Commissioner said alternative drug treatments were available
instead.
Mr Steichen said Brussels would provide aid for groups of farmers or
stock breeders prepared to set up their own inspection teams. A minority
of unscrupulous producers were discrediting the entire industry, and
Brussels would show ''no pity,'' he warned.
Meanwhile, Brussels is set to lift its ban on imports of livestock
meat and dairy products from Eastern Europe, provided the countries hit
by the ban pledge to implement strict anti-foot and mouth measures.
These will include two weeks of quarantine for livestock being
exported to the EC.
* A relaxation in the rules for Suckler Cow Premium has been agreed by
the EC Agricultural Council.
This allows more dairy producers to claim premium by increasing the
individual milk quota limit from 60,000kg to 120,000kg (160,450 litres),
and abolishing the 10-cow limit.
Qualifying producers may apply for a priority allocation of Suckler
Cow Premium quota rights from an allocation of quota made by the
European Council for this purpose.
To qualify, a producer's milk quota must not exceed 120,000kg on April
1, 1993. Suckler Cow Premium quota will be allocated for the number of
eligible suckler cows which were held on the producer's holding for six
months from January 1 to June 30, 1993 inclusive. The producer will be
able to apply for premium under the 1993 Suckler Cow Premium Scheme.
Small dairy producers who can comply with the terms of the allocation
must submit a valid application by the closing date of May 15, 1993.
Valid applications received for up to 20 days after the closing date,
that is until June 4, 1993, will be accepted, but allocation will be
progressively reduced.
Application forms and explanatory notes for allocation of these quota
rights have been distributed to producers with a milk quota of 120,000kg
or less as at April 1, 1993.
Producers who do not receive an application form and explanatory
notes, and who think they may qualify, should contact their nearest
Local Area Office for a copy of the application form as soon as
possible.
Allocation will be subject to the rules for Suckler Cow Premium Quota
Rights, based on 1992 valid premium claims, and will therefore be
subject to a deduction for the national reserve. The amount of this
deduction has not yet been announced, but it will not exceed 3%.
Producers will be notified of their allocations in the autumn.
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