NFU Cymru has issued a reminder to livestock farmers across Wales that the new single page cattle passports are coming into operation as of 1st August. From 1st, all passports printed and sent out from BCMS will be a single page document.

This applies to new passports for calves and imported animals and to re-issued passports; NFU Cymru said the old style passports will not be replaced; the new passport includes the same information as the chequebook style passport but it does not have any movement cards.

The union stressed that there are no changes to the rules governing movements. Cattle keepers will still need to report all movements to BCMS within three days and keep their farm records up to date. NFU Cymru said all keepers should by now have received a step-by-step handbook from BCMS and has urged all farmers to read it carefully, as failure to comply with the rules can lead to cross compliance breaches and a reduction in support payments.

Ed Bailey, NFU Cymru President, discussing the new rules at the Brecon Show, said, “NFU Cymru appreciates the rules when it comes to reporting to BCMS and would recommend using the electronic reporting service or automated self-service telephone line service for those without broadband internet access."

"What we don’t agree with, however, is the level of cross compliance penalties that are being dished out when Welsh farmers, accidently or inadvertently, don’t get their movement records to BCMS within the deadline. The penalties for minor breaches are completely disproportionate in our view.”

Mr Bailey went on to welcome the recent announcement by the Agriculture Minister, Alun Davies AM, that Gareth Williams will lead the Welsh Government’s work on reducing bureaucracy and provide better regulation in the farming industry in Wales.

Mr Bailey said, “I hope Gareth Williams will take into account all the hard work previously done by Peredur Hughes on trying to reduce the amount of red-tape our industry faces here in Wales and the work done by Richard Macdonald across the border in England."

“The fact that Welsh farmers can be penalised when a cattle movement is not reported to BCMS within three calendar days when EU regulations allow for up to seven days is my view a clear case of ‘gold plating’. We hope to meet with Mr Williams shortly to put forward our thoughts on how the Welsh Government can implement a simpler and more proportionate regulatory and inspection regime in Wales.”