No solution yet for failures in I&R

There is as yet no solution for the malfunctions in the Identification & Registration System (I&R). LTO Nederland urges the parties involved to take measures. This is to prevent adverse effects in the future. Monday 17 September is the last time livestock farmers can contribute ideas about the proposed changes to the I&R system. 

The reporting of animals, under the proposed rules for tightening the I&R system, must in the future be done within 3 days. Failure to do so will result in a fine of €1.500. But, what if this is not possible due to malfunctions?

Later registration date
From Friday, August 31 to Tuesday, September 4, there were various disruptions in the exchange of data between the CRV and the I&R system. As a result, no births could be passed on via the CRV. Dairy farmers now see this reflected in the administration surrounding the calf; for example, calves were registered later and received a later registration date.

In concrete terms, this means that the calves have to stay on the farm longer. This is because the 14 days only start when a calf is correctly registered in the I&R system. If the changes in the rules go through, there will also be a fine in return. "LTO Nederland therefore made every effort last week to get the original reports into the I&R system on the correct day. Unfortunately, this turned out to be impossible."

How to deal with malfunction
There seems to be no other solution, because no exception could be made for the calves. As a result, the representative urges those involved that disruptions should no longer have any negative consequences for the livestock farmers in the future.

The advice is that a livestock farmer himself must report a malfunction to the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl). Only, how does a farmer know that there is a malfunction? These are questions that arise now that the I&R system is being looked at critically.

Human mistakes
There are also questions about the ear tags. The animals run outside and the ear tags wear out, but what if that happens in the future? Under the proposed rules, this can cost a lot of money. Comments are also made regarding the amount of the fines and how human errors will be dealt with in the future, for example when a farmer notices too late that the wrong calf has been taken.

To Monday 14 September farmers can let us know what they think of the proposals. Then Minister Carola Schouten (Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality) will look at what will happen with the proposals. 

Herman van den Pol

Herma van den Pol has been with us since 2011 Boerenbusiness and has developed over the years into a market expert Milk & Feed. In addition, she can be seen weekly in the market flash about the dairy market.

h.vandenpol@boerenbusiness. Nl

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