NFU Cymru has welcomed news that the Welsh Assembly Government has put forward an amendment to EU rules which, if accepted, would allow on-farm containment of fallen stock prior to disposal, resulting in huge cost savings for farmers.
The proposal is part of a review of the EU Animal By Products regulation. This follows on from promising research that is currently taking place at Bangor University into a bio-reduction system which safely stores fallen stock and at the same time reduces the volume that will eventually be required for disposal.
NFU Cymru Livestock Board Chairman, Ed Rees, who has seen the system first hand at Bangor University said, "NFU Cymru, through our team in Brussels, fully supports the amendment initiated from Wales to the EU Animal by Products regulation. Ever since the introduction of the burial ban we have lobbied extensively for alternatives to the current costly and energy intensive method of removal of fallen stock from farms.
"By allowing the containment of fallen stock on-farm, as successfully trialled in Wales, we see the potential for a more efficient, environmentally friendly and bio-secure method of disposing of fallen stock."
Mr Rees concluded, "Fallen animals are a problem that unfortunately we all have to contend with on farm and we firmly believe that the solution must also be available on farm, this amendment goes some way to achieving that aim. We will work closely with our representatives in Brussels over the coming months to try to deliver some common sense to fallen stock rules."
