Mart owners John Swan Ltd admit breaching regulations

Jul 8 2009 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

OWNERS of a Northumberland livestock mart were yesterday ordered to pay out more than £25,000 for a catalogue of breaches of animal movement regulations.

John Swan Ltd, which owns the Wooler Auction Mart, appeared before Berwick magistrates for sentencing on 45 charges brought by Northumberland County Council’s trading standards team.

The firm had previously pleaded guilty to six charges of failing to observe six-day standstill regulations, 14 counts of failing to record details of movements, nine of failing to send copies of movement documents, eight of failing to complete a register relating to movements, and eight of failing to notify the secretary of state of movements.

The company was fined £23,800 and ordered to pay costs of £1,841.20, and a £15 surcharge.

Prosecutor Neil Masson told the court how the offences – dating from July 3, 2008 to January 21 this year – had been uncovered following an investigation by trading standards officers.

The court heard the regulations breached by the company had been introduced after two “devastating outbreaks which badly effected the farming community” – BSE in the 1990s and foot and mouth in 2001.

“It is easy to pass off the offences as paperwork or excessive bureaucracy. Far from it,” he said. “You can see the consequences of these breaches could be devastating.

“The foot and mouth outbreak of 2001 resulted in four million animals being slaughtered nationwide with a cost of £8bn. It is to avoid a repeat of this that these regulations are in place.” Mr Masson told the court the mart’s position in the farming community was an aggravating factor in its offending.