Fallen Stock Scheme

Under the Animal By-Products Regulation 2003 it has been illegal to bury or openly burn livestock that have died through natural causes on farms since May 2003.Farmers must now dispose of their fallen stock by either rendering or approved incineration, using the existing infrastructure and disposal operators.

Following extensive discussion with farming and industry bodies, it was agreed that a low-cost, National Fallen Stock Scheme should be launched. Registration with the scheme is voluntary, farmers may dispose of their fallen stock out of the scheme, providing this meets with the EU Animal By-Products Regulation.

The National Fallen Stock Scheme Company (NFSCo) has been set up to run the scheme in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.The schemeaims to reduce the cost to farmers of disposing of their fallen stock.

The schemewill initially achieve this by offsetting the collectors charges using Government funding - Government will provide a contribution to these charges on a declining basis for a limited period of three years.

The schemeis open to all farmed livestock owners and businesses. Farmers are able to register with the schemefor the collection and disposal of farmed livestock on payment of a fixed nominal annual registration fee. (the fee for the first year is £28 + VAT for the first collection point nominated by a farmer). Additional collection points can be registered as part of the same business on payment of an additional annual fee for each additional collection point. (Additional collection points registered as part of the same business are £20 + VAT per year). Acceptance onto the schemeis conditional on provision of a variable direct debit mandate through which NFSCo will take payments.

The scheme started on Monday 22nd November 2004 but farmers, horse owners and businesses could register to become a memberof the schemefrom 25th October 2004, by phoning the NFSCo on Tel: 0845 0548888.

For more information on the NFSCo Scheme go to the Defra link on the left.