Rural Scottish livestock hauliers hit 'especially hard' by foot and mouth
Date: 17 September 2007
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Livestock hauliers in Scotland are being hit especially hard by the latest foot and mouth disease outbreak.
Those freight haulage firms in Scotland involved in the transport of livestock were already struggling to cope with the backlog of animals caused by the outbreak in August. The Road Haulage Association (RHA) had previously asked the government for a temporary relaxation in driver hours laws to help clear this backlog, but was denied.
The request was backed by organisations such as NFU Scotland and Scottish Meat Processors.
"Without the relaxation, it will be impossible for all the animals to be moved anywhere. It is not just the farmers who are suffering financially, livestock hauliers have been investing in new equipment to meet the new EU legislation on animal welfare due to be implemented next January," said the RHA's Scottish director, Phil Flanders.
"Last week one of our members bought three trailers at £117,000 each and one new truck at £96,000. This investment of £427,000 shows his commitment to the industry - why can we not expect the same commitment from government? It is becoming apparent that livestock hauliers are becoming the forgotten sector of the livestock industry."
The RHA has predicted the demise of rural hauliers because of the delays on animals going to market or to the slaughterhouse.
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