A companion in Mathison (Farmers) Leven, who commercially rear and slaughter poultry at Southfield Farm, Leven, East Yorkshire, supplying the meat below the model Yorkshire Ducks and Geese, appeared at Beverley Magistrates Court on Wednesday, thirty first January, in relation to animal well being and meals security offences.
Daniel Mathison, 49, pleaded responsible to 4 offences regarding the Avian Influenza (chicken flu) outbreak on their premises and to working a slaughterhouse with out Food Standards Agency (FSA) approval.
Mathison was fined £4,000 per offence, and ordered to pay an extra £6,000 in direction of prices and a £2,000 sufferer surcharge, totalling £28,000 to be paid inside 12 months.
The courtroom heard how, regardless of nationwide preventative obligatory housing, biosecurity and document preserving measures being in place, officers from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) discovered the top of the duck rearing shed was totally open, and no information of chicken deaths had been stored once they visited the farm on 12 April, 2023, to analyze a attainable Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) outbreak.
Avian influenza was confirmed within the duck flock on thirteenth April, 2023.
Follow-up investigations by officers from Public Protection at East Riding of Yorkshire Council discovered slaughtering and meat manufacturing actions had expanded such that they had been tremendously in extra of the permitted restrict, above which approval and on-site supervision by the Food Standards Agency is required.
It was additionally recognized there had been a breach of restrictions stopping the motion of something onto or from the premises while ready for Avian Influenza check outcomes, by persevering with to produce meat to an area restaurant on thirteenth April, 2023.
An extra breach of the continuing restrictions imposed to minimise the danger of illness spreading from the farm occurred on thirty first May, 2023, when old insulation was faraway from the premises.
During sentencing, the magistrates mentioned these actions might have had large reaching and critical penalties for different farmers, well being and the local people.
They thought-about this to be within the excessive culpability bracket, as Mathison carried on regardless of warnings and may have identified what was required.
Angela Dearing, director of housing, transportation and public safety at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, mentioned: “It is highly likely this Avian Influenza outbreak would not have happened if compulsory housing measures to ensure separation from wild birds had been complied with. It is fortunate the outbreak did not spread further when the disease control restrictions were breached.
“In addition to the catastrophic consequences for this business, the measures required to control the outbreak and prevent it spreading further significantly impacted on other local livestock keepers and the community. The outbreak also resulted in substantial financial and resource costs for DEFRA, APHA, the council and other partner agencies involved.
She added: “It is therefore vitally important that all livestock keepers play their part and adhere to animal disease control regulations, which are in place to protect against potentially devastating effects on their own livestock and businesses, animal and public health, and the economy.”
Aled Edwards, Head of Field Delivery England, Animal and Plant Health Agency. added: “This case demonstrates how our robust enforcement and our effective collaboration with local authorities can bring those guilty of breaches of animal health and welfare legislation to justice.
“I hope the sentence will act as a reminder to others of the importance of these legal requirements in minimising the risk of further spread of disease, and the consequences of not adhering to the rules.
“APHA takes potential breaches of animal health and welfare legislation very seriously and will continue to investigate all allegations.”
