Ulster Unionist MLA and party Agriculture Spokesperson Jo-Anne Dobson has weighed in behind the Ulster Farmers Union who this week raised serious concerns about the Department of Agriculture’s cattle ID Cross Compliance system.

Commenting following this week’s Stormont Agriculture Committee, at which the UFU President Ian Marshall described the cross compliance system as a ‘minefield,’ Mrs Dobson said: “The UFU have hit the nail on the head here and are absolutely right to raise their concerns that DARD operate a system which is nowhere near as tolerable as neighbouring UK regions or indeed the Republic of Ireland.

“It’s not fraud, it’s not an animal welfare or cruelty issue and it’s certainly not negligence – so there is absolutely no reason what-so-ever to effectively treat our farmers as criminals by gold-plating EU ‘guidance’ in this way.

“Constituents of mine have attempted suicide following cross compliance inspections and the Department have duty of care to ensure that their system in no way persecutes our farmers or leaves them feeling that they have somehow broken the law.

“The very nature of the tags themselves means it’s inevitable that a small percentage will go missing but crucially it is what DARD term a ‘small’ percentage that is worrying farmers and the industry. 

“I will continue to support the UFU and raise this issue until our farmers have parity of treatment with farmers in neighbouring regions.  The present system is leaving our farmers and the industry at a disadvantage to those neighbouring regions and I am calling on DARD to go back to the commission and seek urgent clarity on what should after all be viewed as ‘guidance’ only.

“Other regions do not persecute farmers on the basis of guidance from the EU Commission – I see no reason what so ever for DARD to continue to do so.”