NFSCo hails RPA’s National Fallen Stock Scheme achievements
Michael Seals, chairman of the National Fallen Stock Company (NFSCo) today acknowledged the positive contribution that the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has made in its delivery and administration of the National Fallen Stock Scheme (NFSS), the government-backed voluntary scheme for the collection and disposal of fallen stock.
Administration of NFSS moves over to Ian Potter Associates (IPA) at the end of this month, following a four year period of engagement with RPA.
During its launch and period of administration by RPA, the NFSS has:
- Attracted a membership of over 44,000 livestock farmers from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
- Distributed over £16 million to members against the costs of fallen stock collections from farms.
- Administered over 1.2 million collections of fallen stock from farms.
Michael Seals, chairman of the NFSCo said: “RPA has done an excellent job of setting up and running the NFSS for the company. Over the period of RPA’s administration, the agency’s resources and commitment has helped NFSS develop into a real and effective service. Overall, we have had just 600 complaints since the scheme started, even though over a million collections have been carried out, which is a good indication of the level of satisfaction which the service NFSS gives to the farming community. I have been equally impressed at the strong and professional working relationship which the RPA team has built up with our network of collectors operating under the scheme.”
Commenting on the transfer, Tony Cooper, chief executive of RPA, said: “The team has a lot to be proud of. NFSCo invited us to set up and manage the administrative functions and IT of NFSS before its launch in November 2004. Since that time, RPA has contributed to making the scheme the undoubted success it is today, administering well over a million collections and ensuring that government funding towards fallen stock removal was distributed promptly and correctly to livestock farmers. It’s pleasing to hand over such a success story and I wish Ian Potter Associates the very best in continuing to develop this very important service.”
Michael Seals added: “Looking ahead, we believe that the NFSS is very well positioned to operate independently and efficiently in the private sector, especially with the ending of the government subsidy in November 2008. We are already working with Ian Potter Associates to build on RPA’s legacy.”
Notes to editors
1. The NFSS is a voluntary members scheme and is designed to assist farmers and horse owners to comply with the Animal-By-Products Regulation which prevents on-farm burial of fallen stock by providing a Scheme which offers a reliable, low cost means of disposal. Members pay a yearly fee, currently £28, but reducing to £18 later this year. In return collectors’ charges for taking away fallen stock are discounted. In addition, the collectors charges are also offset using Government funding – Government provides a contribution to these charges on a declining basis until November 2008. This contribution is currently set at 20%.
2. The decision to move followed an independent review of the NFSCo, which oversees the administration of the scheme. The review recommended that significant savings could be achieved through privatisation of the scheme. The subsequent transfer to Ian Potter Associates, which won the contract after a competitive tender process, has been progressing since January this year and will be completed by 1 April 2008.
3. RPA is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), providing a range of key services in support of the department’s objectives, including making rural payments, carrying out rural inspections, and livestock tracing.
Further information
Media only contact: Ciaran Baker, RPA Press Office , 0118 968 7680, ciaran.baker@rpa.gsi.gov.uk
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