Livestock marts will remain open under level 4 restrictive measures, but must adjust their operations accordingly, it has been confirmed.
That’s Farming understands that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is issuing guidelines to marts as Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal will be elevated to level 4 from midnight tonight (Thursday, October 15th).
This publication has requested a statement from the department in relation to the matter.
Level 4
Ray Doyle, ICOS livestock marts executive, confirmed to That’s Farming that the following measures will be required in livestock marts under level 4 restrictions:
- Buyers only allowed to attend marts and must remain at a 2 metres distance as per the agreed SOP for each mart ring centre;
- Masks are mandatory, shields are not acceptable;
- Sellers must drop and go and cannot stay on the mart premises after animals are unloaded;
- Buyers will not be allowed to pre-view livestock in the penning areas due to concerns regarding maintaining the social distance rules.
More to follow…
