A Dungiven farmer has been convicted of five charges relating to failure to record animal movements to and from his farm.
Edward Devlin (62), of Rannyglas Road, Dungiven, appeared in Ballymena Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (November 18).
The case against Devlin included three for charges of failure to notify the movement of cattle onto his holding and two charges of failure to notify the movement of cattle onto or off his holding.
Devlin pleaded guilty and was fined £750 plus £15 offender levy.
The case arose after a number of discrepancies found during a cattle identification inspection carried out by DAERA’s Welfare and Enforcement Branch.
Integrity
Cattle movements notified to the department are recorded on to the Animal and Public Health Information System (APHIS) database.
The provision of complete and timely information concerning cattle in the herd is fundamental to the credibility and integrity of the region’s agri-food chain.
A DAERA spokesman said: “Breaches of the Cattle Identification Regulations weaken and undermine the cattle traceability system in Northern Ireland, including the integrity of the Department’s Animal and Public Health Information System (APHIS).
“The current interest in food safety by both government and consumer groups means it is essential that the department is clearly seen to be implementing all legislation pertaining to the traceability of livestock.”
