Department suspends livestock mart’s licence

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has suspended Kilkenny Mart’s licence.

Management confirmed that the DAFM has suspended trading due to a breach in Covid-19 regulations.

In a brief statement, a spokesperson said: “Sale in Kilkenny Mart on Thursday, May 27^th, has been postponed.”

“The Dept. of Agriculture has suspended trading due to a breach in Covid-19 regulations. We will keep everyone updated over the coming days,” the spokesperson added.

That’s Farming contacted the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine for a statement on Wednesday night (May 26^th) as the news emerged. At the time of writing, we have received no correspondence.

Mart licences

Last month, the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) suspended Athenry Mart’s licence.

Confirming the news to That’s Farming, a DAFM spokesperson said:

“The licence issued to Athenry mart was suspended on April 22nd. This was due to a breach of a licence condition related to COVID-19 safety procedure.”

“Department officials are in contact with management at the mart in order to progress matters.”

“Any mart that is currently trading has had its Level 5 COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) approved by Department officials.”

“Each mart is subject to ongoing inspections to monitor compliance with Level 5 COVID-19 SOPs; breaches may lead to the suspension of the mart licence. No other marts have currently had their licence suspended,” the spokesperson concluded.

Delvin Mart’s licence suspended

In March 2021, the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine suspended Delvin Mart’s trading licence.

The premises was temporarily closed for a period following breaches of Covid-19 regulations.

Buyers and sellers return to marts 

Buyers and sellers returned to marts nationwide earlier this month – find more here.

Staff

• The number of staff at the mart should be limited to the minimum required. The mart should keep a record of date and times of attendance and attendees’ contact details, in case any future contact tracing is necessary;
• Staff should be given appropriate training in the following: symptoms of COVID-19 infection, prevention of spread and hand washing;
• Also, management should advise staff that the physical distancing guidelines as outlined by the HSE must always be adhered to in dealing with both other staff and visitors;
• Management should remain staff not to attend for work if they have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection, i.e. fever, cough or shortness of breath;
• If a member of staff develops symptoms while at work, they should advise their manager immediately and go home if well enough to do so; If not, arrangements should be made to isolate the ill person while awaiting medical attention;
• Lastly, staff must wear face-covering while on the mart premises.

‘Visitors’ to the mart (i.e. Buyers/sellers/hauliers)

• Marts must control the entrance to the mart premises and prevent the congregation of members of the public in the mart car park or at entryways into mart buildings;
• Buyers must be separated (by greater than 2 metres) in the sales ring at all times.
• Mart should regulate any visits to its premises by appointment;
• Visitors arriving without appointments should be refused access to the mart site;
• The mart should record details of all dates and times of attendees using an attendance record along with contact details;
• Visitors should be advised of two-metre physical distancing guidelines. They should only move about the mart premises as directed by the signage provided and/or by mart personnel;
• All visitors must wear a face covering while on the mart premises;
• Buyers may attend the sales ring and view stock in pens. However, this must be done by prior appointment with the livestock mart.
• Access points to the mart premises should be limited to the minimum required to operate safely. Mart employees should regulate and record any entrants at all entrances;
• The mart should provide hand hygiene facilities throughout the premises;
• Marts should put appropriate in place to remind all attendees of the recommendations to limit the spread of COVID-19;
• Mart management must ensure that arrangements for physical distancing are in place throughout the premises. This includes toilet facilities, canteens (where open) and in office space;
• Marts should implement cleaning arrangements, with special attention to high touch surfaces such as door handles, light switches, handrails etc.

Meanwhile, you can find information about livestock marts in Northern Ireland here.