Farmer in Stokenchurch fined for animal by-product offences
A farmer in Stokenchurch has been fined after animal carcasses, pigs heads and sheep skulls were being stored on a farm, apparently in breach of animal by-products regulations.
A testing team attended a farm in Water End, Stokenchurch to conduct TB tests on cattle, however their attention was drawn to animal carcasses, pigs heads and sheep skulls being stored on the premises, apparently in breach of animal by-products regulations.
An officer from trading standards officers later attempted to carry out an inspection to investigate the situation, however they were refused access to the farm. As a result the trading standards officers had to apply for a warrant and police escort to gain entry.
Based on the inspection, a man was charged with five offences under animal by-products regulations, covering:
- Failure to dispose of animal by-products properly using a licensed collector.
- Failure to comply with an enforcement notice.
- Obstructing authorised officers from entering for an inspection.
- Failure to produce records and documents when requested.
On Monday 28th October 2019, the man appeared before High Wycombe magistrates and pleaded not guilty on all counts. In mitigation, he told the court that he made practically no profit on the farm and gave other extenuating circumstances. A District Judge found the man guilty and issued a total fine of £600, as well as ordering the man to pay £400 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
Gareth Williams, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Public Health at Buckinghamshire County Council, said: ‘This prosecution demonstrates that we take offences of this nature very seriously, and our trading standards officers do their utmost to ensure the law relating to disposal of animal by-products is upheld.‘
*Source of article : Press release from Buckinghamshire County Council.