He was convicted of 18 charges under the Cattle Identification (Notification of Births, Deaths and Movements) Regulations (NI) 1999 and Cattle Identification (Enforcement) Regulations (NI) 1998.
Mr Hazelton pleaded guilty and was fined £4,500 plus £10 costs.
Notes to Editors:
1.Mr Hazelton was convicted of one charge of failing to keep a herd register as required by Regulation 3(4) of the Cattle Identification (Enforcement) Regulations (NI) 1998 in accordance with the form set out in the Schedule to the said Regulations, contrary to Regulation 3(1) of the Cattle Identification (Enforcement) Regulations (NI) 1998.
2.Mr Hazelton was also convicted of 17 charges of being the keeper of bovine animals in contravention of Article 7.1 of the Council Regulations (EC) No 1760/2000 and Article 6.3 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2629/97, of failing to comply with the requirement to notify the Department of the birth, movement or death of animals in accordance with the provisions of Regulations 6, 7 and 8 of the Cattle Identification (Notification of Births, Deaths and Movements) Regulations (NI) 1999, contrary to Regulation 5(1) of the said Regulations.
3. Properly maintained herd registers form an integral part of animal traceability, supporting the accuracy and integrity of the Department’s Animal & Public Health Information System (APHIS) database.
4.Cattle movements, notified to the Department, are recorded on to the APHIS database. The provision, within statutory time limits or upon request, of complete, accurate and timely information concerning cattle in a herd, to the Department, is fundamental to the credibility and integrity of the APHIS computerised system.
5. Breaches of these regulations weaken and undermine food animal traceability in Northern Ireland.
6. All media enquiries to DARD Press Office, Tel: 028 9052 4619. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
