Investigation into older cattle disposal scheme

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has commissioned DARD to investigate potential mis-use of the Older Cattle Disposal Scheme (OCDS) in Northern Ireland.

The OCDS is an RPA scheme, but is monitored and checked at a local level by officers from the Livestock and Meat Commission and DARD. It offers producers compensation and a controlled destruction route for older animals born or reared in the UK prior to 1 August 1996.

Control checks have indicated that there may be an element of mis-use of the Scheme involving the presentation of ineligible animals by a small number of people.

DARD is currently investigating and, if necessary will take enforcement action. DARD has raised this issue with various stakeholders and would ask the farming community to remain vigilant, and where they suspect any potential abuse of the OCDS, to contact the confidential DARD Fraud Hotline on 080 8100 2716.

Notes to Editors:

1. The OCDS was set up to cater for animals born or reared in the UK prior to 1 August 1996, which are permanently excluded from the human food chain. The Scheme followed the reintroduction of animals born on or after 1 August 1996 into the human food chain on 7 November 2005. To be eligible for OCDS, the animal must still meet the same veterinary and identification criteria as any comparable younger animal eligible for the human food chain.
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