Am still awaiting responses to my questions from BPEX - they are aparently still trying to find out the answers.
What I queried was :
"A number of queries occur, which hopefully you can answer. Many small producers sell live weaners from properties that are remote from their homes (so no on-site PCs) , and some producers do not have internet.
1. If my PC crashes, or internet is down (happens in rural areas, and small producers may only have one PC) can I use the telephone service? Or am i banned from moving because of equipment failure?.
2. If this happens at 8pm is the telephone service available then, and at weekends when many live to live transfers happen?
3. If telephone service is not available at weekends, then how do those without computers move livestock (and no they may not know before the weekend that they are moving), or how do those with computers that are not working. Are they banned from moving, or can they do the paperwork retrospectively.
4. The paperwork states “Q: What if I get an inspection from Trading Standards or the RPA? : All inspection bodies are being briefed on the new system. As with your existing paper records you should give them access to your electronic eAML2 records if you are inspected.” Are you telling me that I must let an inspector have access to my computer (I hope not!) or how do I give them access – surely they already have this centrally. Is this just a badly phrased Q&A ?
5. Given this is due to come into effect in less than a week, what are the telephone numbers and hours of service for the BPA, BPEX, and MLCSL telephone lines
Thanks in advance for your help and answers
I think I know the legal answers to some of these, as following no response from them went to the legislation, as PRIMO 2011 says :
"12.—(1) Subject to articles 13, 14, 15 and 16(2) keepers, other than markets, must notify BPEX of all movements of pigs from their holdings before those movements take place.
(2) Keepers may notify BPEX electronically by entering the following information onto the BPEX movement recording system—
(a)the address, including the postcode, and CPH number of the holdings from and to which the pigs are being moved;.
(b)the date of the movement;.
(c)the number of pigs being moved;.
(d)the identification mark of each pig moved, and in the case of a movement specified in article 9 or 10 [shows or export] that must include the unique individual identification number required by those articles..
(3) If a keeper does not notify BPEX electronically they must provide the information listed in paragraph (2) by telephone or in writing to MLCSL and may not move those pigs until they have received a document from MLCSL recording that information.
(4) When MLCSL receives notification of movement information under paragraph (3) it must, within one working day of receipt excluding weekends, send the keeper sufficient copies of a document recording that information to enable the keeper, and any transporter and the keeper at the holding of destination to meet their recording obligations.
(5) When pigs are moved from a market the market must notify BPEX of the information at paragraph (2) in relation to those pigs electronically on the day of the movement.
(6) In this article “BPEX movement recording system” means the electronic movement recording system maintained for the purpose of notifications under this Order by BPEX and “working day” means a day which is not a Saturday or a Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a bank holiday in England and Wales under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971(1)."
So basically after 31st March, no working PC, or no internet, then you need to allow two working days (providing they are sending first class) to get a form. Ok so you can book ahead, so if you know on monday that you are moving at the weekend and to whom, you can enter it on your pc on monday, in case your pc breaks down.
As for hours of telephone service - is Monday to Friday 9-5 for BPEX!
For those with no PC, all moves neeed to be booked two days ahead (at least!)
And if you have no pc on your pigsite then you are going to need more forward planning if you sell live.
And if you have PC, and someone phones Staurday to buy for Sunday, better be happy that the PC is working, as if it then goes down, you can't move at the weekend when they call, and if PC not fixed monday, then you will wait until wednesday for the telephone form. Buyer may go elsewhere.
Not so much worried for us, we have two PC's on site, and can always pop to neighbours to enter at worst.
The big pig guys are already paranoid about disease spread and have closed or very tightly controlled moves within pyramiods, and really are no disease risk at all
But the old boys and girls who are not PC literate are going to be affected, and will now fall under the need to serve two days notice.
It is the small guys/gals who are the disease risk, and suspect that it will lead to more unregistered moves if they have to plan two days ahead, so the law of unintended consequences may well apply, and a system designed to improve data capture may well lead to the opposite. I hope I am wrong!