Mr Cardwell was found guilty and was fined £3,000 plus £10 costs
Notes to Editors
1. Mr Cardwell was convicted of 1 charge of being the keeper of bovine animals, in contravention of Article of Article 7.1 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 and
Article 6.3 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2629/97. He failed 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 the said animals on his holding as required by Regulation 8(1) of the said Regulations, contrary to Regulation 5(1) of the said Regulations.
2. Mr Cardwell was also convicted of 1 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.
3. Cattle movements notified to the Department are recorded on to the Animal & Public Health Information System (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.
4. Properly maintained herd registers form an integral part of animal traceability, supporting the accuracy and integrity of the Department’s APHIS database.
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.
