Animal health prosecution success

3 March 2023

Falsely identifying sheep and providing false information on sheep movement reporting documentation has cost a Powys man over £2,300 after they were prosecuted by the county council.

Daniel Price of Oakfield, Dolau was prosecuted by Powys County Council's Animal Health Team for the offences.

Price, who pleaded guilty to four offences under the Animal Health Act 1981 and asked for 17 other charges to be taken into consideration, appeared before Llandrindod Wells Magistrates Courts on 1 March 2023 and was fined £1,200 for the offences. He was ordered to pay £1,000 costs and a £120 victim surcharge.

The court heard that in February 2020, Price provided false information on sheep movement reporting documentation and that in September 2020 and December 2020, he falsely identified a total of 39 sheep.

Price also failed to notify EID Cymru, an electronic system to record livestock movements in Wales, of the movement of two sheep, the court was told.

Cllr Richard Church, Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys, said: "The laws relating to the identification and movement reporting of sheep and goats are in place to make it easier to trace animals and help to prevent, or to reduce the cost of, an outbreak of a serious disease, such as, Foot and Mouth Disease and to protect the human food chain.

"If farmers do not follow regulations, then our officers will investigate and take the appropriate action."

Gavin Jones, the council's Animal Health Team Manager, said: "Our officers will take appropriate action in these circumstances. Most breaches are dealt with without the need to prosecute.  However, if we come across similar cases to this, we will prosecute."