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Farmers urged to act now before OCDS ends
Beef and dairy farmers are reminded that The Older Cattle Disposal Scheme (OCDS) closes on 31 December 2008. Owners of cattle born or imported in to the UK before 1 August 1996 are being urged to book their animals into the scheme before 30 September in order to guarantee a slaughter slot before the Scheme ends.
After 31 December there will be no scheme available for compensating producers for animals born or imported before 1st August 1996. They will have to be disposed of as fallen stock, possibly at the producer’s own expense. Sending these cattle to a ‘clean kill’ abattoir is an offence.
To be considered for OCDS compensation, the animal must be presented and slaughtered at an OCDS abattoir by the 31 December.
Producers are reminded to quote their CPH and the animal’s ear tag number at the time of booking.
Slaughter slot availability is regularly updated on the RPA website at www.rpa.gov.uk. Queries regarding the OCDS can be directed to the OCDS Helpline on 0118 968 7333.
Notes to Editors
1. The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). It is the single paying agency responsible for CAP schemes in England and for administering certain schemes, including the OCDS and Milk Quotas, throughout the UK.
2. OCDS was introduced on the 23 January 2006. It was designed to run in the UK until 31 December 2008 as an extraordinary support measure to compensate producers for being unable to enter cattle born before August 1996 into the food chain.
Media Enquiries
Caroline Forcer, RPA Press Office, 0118 968 7680; e-mail: caroline.forcer@rpa.gsi.gov.uk.
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