16 December 2008 - Farmer convicted at Dungannon Court

He was convicted of four charges under the Cattle Identification (Notification of Births, Deaths and Movements) Regulations (NI) 1999, one charge under the Cattle Identification (Enforcement) Regulations (NI) 1998 and one charge under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2006.

Mr Lee pleaded guilty and was fined £4,000 plus £10 costs.

Notes to Editors

1. Mr Lee was convicted of one charge 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 notify the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the birth of an animal in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 6(2) of the Cattle Identification (Notification of Births, Deaths and Movements) Regulations (NI) 1999,or of its movement on to his holding as required by Regulation 7 of the said regulations, contrary to Regulation 5(1) of the said Regulations.
2. Mr Lee was also convicted of one charge of being the keeper of bovine animals, in contravention of Article 7.1 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 and Article 6.3 of commission Regulation (EC) 2629/97, of failing to notify the Department of Agriculture and Rural development of the movement of bovine animals off his holding in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 7(2) of the Cattle Identification (Notifications of Births, Deaths and Movements) Regulations(NI) 1999, or the death of animals on his holding as required by Regulation 8(1) of the said Regulations, contrary to Regulation 5(1) of the said Regulations.
3. Mr Lee was also convicted 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.
4. Mr Lee was also convicted of being the keeper of food-producing animals, of failing to keep proof of purchase of all Veterinary products or documentary evidence as to how he acquired said products, contrary to Regulation 17 of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2006.
5. Mr Lee was also convicted of two charges of knowingly or recklessly providing information in a notification to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding bovine animals which he knew to be false, contrary to Regulation 5(2) of the Cattle Identification (Notification of Births, Deaths and Movements) Regulations(NI) 1999.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Breaches of these regulations weaken and undermine food animal traceability in Northern Ireland.
9. 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.