Cattle hormone residues: farmers to get good will payment

Farmers have been offered a goodwill payment for cattle condemned after failing a hormone test.

Agriculture Minister, Michelle Gildernew MP MLA, has met with those farmers who have had on-farm emergency slaughter (OFES) male cattle condemned due to a positive alpha-nortestosterone test.

No evidence of illegal administration was found following on-farm investigations and scientific evidence now supports the view that this hormone can occur naturally in male cattle.

The Minister invited the farmers to a meeting at Loughry Campus, Cookstown, to discuss the issue, explain the actions taken by the department and to reinforce her commitment to supporting the farming community.

The Minister said: “I felt it was important to meet with the farmers affected to explain the background to the issue and the reasons for the actions taken by DARD. I also wanted to apologise for the disturbance and indignation caused by the on-farm searches, particularly at the outset, when the level of follow-up action was greater, before the emerging evidence prompted a progressively reduced and less intrusive approach.”

Ms Gildernew said that the goodwill payment was in recognition of the fact that farmers have lost their animals through no fault of their own: “Having established that there has been no wrong-doing and that the scientific experts now think that male cattle can produce alpha-nortestosterone in their bodies, I think it is wrong to leave the farmers out of pocket for the binned cattle,” she said.

The payment will be based on the market value of the animal at the time of slaughter, for all OFES male cattle condemned due to a positive test and where follow-up investigations on each farm were clear.

Ms Gildernew added: “I welcomed the opportunity to explain DARD’s position and emphasise that we act with the best interests of the agri-food industry in mind. It was clear to me at the meeting that many farmers remain angry and frustrated about their treatment and they expressed their views strongly.

“I recognize these concerns and in response I undertook to initiate a review of the handling of the alpha-nortestosterone issue and to see what lessons could be learned.

“The outcome of the review will be made public. I will ensure that lessons are reflected in the handling of any similar issues in the future, so that we can continue to discharge our statutory responsibility to protect the consumer and the reputation of the agri-food industry, while trying to minimise the disturbance to farmers.”

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) takes issues relating to public health very seriously and is required by law to remove any male bovine from the food chain which tests positive for alpha-nortestosterone, regardless of whether or not evidence of illegal administration has been found and is permitted to do so without incurring legal liability to pay compensation.

The Minister and DARD officials made it clear that this ex-gratia payment is purely a gesture of goodwill towards the farming community and does not imply any acceptance of liability, and has no implications for any other areas of DARD activity.

The total value of these payments will be in the region of £80,000.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. Between April 2006 and March 2007 DARD tested all male OFES cattle presented at meat plants for alpha-nortestosterone. All animals which tested positive were condemned and excluded from the food chain, in compliance with the law, with the farmer incurring the financial loss.
2. In March 2007, testing levels reverted to pre-April 06 arrangements, in line with GB practice. This means that all OFES male cattle entering an abattoir, destined for human consumption, will continue to be subject to a rigorous examination by the Official Veterinary Surgeon. However, only animals suspected of having been administered an illegal substance will be subject to the full range of residues tests, including a recently developed analytical method (hair test) which can distinguish between naturally occurring and illegally administered alpha-nortestosterone. Any male OFES bovine animal testing positive for alpha-nortestosterone will be removed from the food chain and the owner will receive payment, provided no evidence of illegal administration is uncovered.
3. 156 OFES male cattle were involved.
4. DARD commissioned Professor Wall, University College Dublin and former Head of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, to report on the sampling and testing procedures for illegal hormone residues in cattle. This report was published on 18 October 2006 and is available on the department’s website at http://dardni.gov.uk/pubs-wall-report
5. All media queries to DARD Press Office, Tel: 028 9052 4619.