Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott, has welcomed the announcement that the inspection and hormone residue testing of on farm emergency slaughter (OFES) male cattle is to revert to the previous arrangements employed for such animals. However, he has also urged that compensation be made available to the many farm businesses caught up in the "heavy-handed" enforcement techniques of officials.

"This issue', he stated, "has been a long running saga and it has yet to be resolved to the satisfaction of the farmers involved, many of whom were treated like criminals and, yet have since been totally vindicated.

"Speaking with farmers when this matter originally came to my attention last year, I was disgusted to learn of their plight, with their homes ransacked and heavy restrictions placed on their herds. I can understand that the presence of alpha-nortestosterone in the cattle was of concern with regards human health but, to treat farmers as being guilty of administering the hormone illegally, without the presence of concrete evidence, caused many families great distress.

"Those farmers who have now proven to be innocent of any wrongdoing must have there names and reputations cleared and compensated for the costs imposed on them by the restrictions and the dumping of many perfectly good animals", he stated.

He called on DARD and the other stakeholders groups involved in finalising the definitive test to detect the presence of illegally administered hormone to bring it on line as soon as possible.

"We must ensure that this episode cannot be allowed to happen again."