NSA Breed Society Forum Q&A evening
Date: 25th October 2022
Time: 7.30pm
Location: Online
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwvdOyqqDgsGtGls7L6jVSLQx2C8ar2TzcO
To keep our affiliated breed societies up to date on the latest developments with ongoing issues affecting the sector NSA would like to invite you, as well as your wider society committees and membership to join an evening Q&A meeting online on Tuesday 25th October, starting at 7.30pm.
The online meeting will be an open discussion providing attendees with the opportunity to ask pertinent questions on an array of subject areas, all questions are welcome. The following topics may be of interest to attendees:
BCP’s (Border Control Posts)
An issue that is still rumbling on, French company Qualivia has now pulled out of the deal to invest in a BCP across the channel in Calais and so we are still no further forward in regaining the breeding animal export trade across the short straights. Other options are being looked into, with a vast amount of work done on alternative routes and the health and journey time implications for some of these routes.
Northern Ireland Protocol
The Brexit protocol has seen Northern Ireland remain in the EU single market for goods, meaning European regulatory rules still apply in the region. Disruption has been ongoing since the UK’s exit from the European Union on January 1, 2021. Because Northern Ireland has remained in the EU Single Market under the Northern Ireland Protocol agreement, Britain is treated as a Third Country in trading terms and must now meet stricter requirements. A high proportion of sheep destined to enter Northern Ireland from Britain would not be able to meet new health standards brought in from January 1, as a result of the protocol.
The Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture (RUMA)
The goal of the RUMA TTF (Target Task Force) has been to respond to Lord O’Neil's report to the UK government on antimicrobial resistance and its recommendation to identify realistic, evidence-based goals for the UK agriculture industry. The creation and rollout of the first set of sector specific targets through the RUMA Targets Task Force, published in 2017 and running to 2020, helped focus activity across the UK livestock sectors to achieve a 52% reduction in antibiotic use since 2014. Discussions have been ongoing about various health assurance schemes and snapshot testing.
UK Genetics for Livestock and Equines (UKGLE) Committee
Defra has reviewed and widened the remit of the Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FAnGR) Committee to provide the necessary expert advice and support on the conservation and use of our GR (Genetic Resources) moving forward. The Committee, now named UKGLE, will continue to advise Defra and the DAs of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on all issues relating to managing and conserving AnGR. They will continue to identify opportunities to capture value by taking account of the genetic variation in livestock species more effectively, with a focus on applications to enhance production efficiency and minimise environmental footprint, whilst maintaining high levels of animal health and welfare. The Committee will also continue to advise on breed conservation and their sustainable use, and on compliance with retained UK zootechnical legislation.
Questions on other issues are also very welcome. NSA will also use the evening as an opportunity to remind breed societies how NSA can support their work.
Questions are invited ahead of the evening to enquiries@nationalsheep.org.uk alternatively the open discussion on the night will provide the platform for them to be asked.
Please share the Zoom meeting link at the top of this page with your society members.
