A Dungannon farmer was convicted at Dungannon Magistrates' Court yesterday.
Martin Rafferty, Lisduff Lane, Benburb, Dungannon was convicted of one charge under the Cattle Identification (Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 and one charge under the Animals (Records) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997.
Mr Rafferty pleaded guilty and was fined £400 plus £64 costs.
Notes to Editors:
- Mr Rafferty was convicted of one charge of failing to keep a herd register as required by Regulation 3(4) of the Cattle Identification (Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 in accordance with the form set out in the Schedule to the said Regulations, contrary to Regulation 3(2) of the said Regulations.
- Mr Rafferty was also convicted of one charge of being a person in charge of swine and thereby required by Article 4(1) of the Animals (Records) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997 to keep a record of such particulars of the said swine as are specified in Schedule 2 to the said Order, failed to keep such a record, contrary to Article 52(1)(a) of the Diseases of Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.
- 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.
- Breaches of these regulations weaken and undermine food animal traceability in Northern Ireland.
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