December 29, 2005

UK enforces new cattle ID rules

Cattle farmers in the UK have been urged to check that sheep and goat sent for slaughter have been correctly identified.

This will be based on new regulations imposed by the country's Food Standards Agency and the Meat Hygiene Service, which come into effect on Jan 1, 2006.

Thereafter, it becomes the slaughterhouses' responsibility to ensure that all animals sent for the kill are identified properly. Animals which do not meet the identification criterion will be slaughtered separately and cannot be sold as food.

Members of the British National Farmers' Union have been reminded that no compensation will be given for the forfeit of poorly identified animals sent for slaughter after Jan 1.