§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Rural Payments Agency has made any payment in cases where an animal has been presented for the Over-30-Months Scheme with a worn or defective ear tag. [123320]
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§ Alun MichaelWhile over six million animals have entered the Over-30-Month Scheme since it started in 1996, the Rural Payments Agency is not aware of any instances where payment has been made on a tag that was worn to the extent that it was partly illegible. If an instance came to light the Agency would look to instigate recovery action in respect of any moneys paid.
Tags which are so worn that they are partly illegible, have been ineligible for the OTMS since the onset of the scheme in 1996. This has been stressed in numerous Trader Notices issued over the years and is also set out in Part B of the OTMS Producer's Handbook.