Food Chain Information

Important news for cattle and sheep producers.

From 1 January 2010 all abattoir operators will be required to request, receive, check and act upon food chain information (FCI) for all cattle and sheep received at slaughterhouses. The new rules apply to abattoirs across Great Britain.

As a sheep or cattle producer, you will need to provide FCI if you are supplying cattle and/or sheep directly or indirectly, e.g. via market to slaughterhouses after 1 January 2010.

The FCI required will include the identification of the animal or batch of animals, whether or not the veterinary medicine withdrawal periods for the animals concerned have been adhered to and the disease status of the animals going for slaughter.

Provision has been made to include FCI for sheep on the new animal movement license for sheep i.e. the AML1. The front of the new AML1 will include a tick box with a corresponding FCI declaration on the reverse of the pink copy of the license. If the sheep/lambs being taken for slaughter comply with the FCI requirements you are only required to tick the box.

If the animals do not satisfy the FCI requirements then you must tick the box and complete the Additional Information proforma included on the reverse of the pink copy of the AML1. Please note FCI is only required for animals going for slaughter. If you are moving store animals, sheep for breeding etc you need do nothing more than complete the AML1 as normal. Existing stocks of AML1 can be used for this purpose. You are advised to request copies of the new AML1 from your local authority from January 2010 should you wish to move sheep/lambs to slaughter.

Work to develop a practical solution for FCI in cattle continues. In the interim, farmers are advised to complete the model document as developed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) before moving cattle directly or indirectly to slaughter.

Model FCI documents are only to be used for cattle satisfying the FCI minimum requirements. Where FCI minimum requirements cannot be met farmers must complete the Additional Information proforma.

The Welsh Assembly Government will ensure that the FCI model document and the Additional Information proforma are available from all Divisional Offices from January 2010 in addition to livestock markets, Animal Health offices and abattoirs.

If you send cattle / sheep direct to slaughter we would advise you to contact your abattoir as soon as possible to ensure that they are content with receiving FCI in the format outlined above.

If you require additional information on the FCI legislative requirements please contact the Food Standards Agency on 029 2067 8908.