CHECS: Setting industry standards in cattle disease control

CHECS: Setting industry standards in cattle disease control

CHECS: Setting industry standards in cattle disease control

Appeals

Appeals

Appeals

The CHeCS Appeals Process

CHeCS is the body that certifies and licenses CHeCS cattle health schemes in the UK and Ireland. CHeCS does not run a cattle health scheme; it ensures that the CHeCS Health schemes all operate to the same technical standard. The CHeCS Technical Advisory Group sets and reviews disease screening and management protocols using proven biosecurity measures to help prevent, control and eradicate certain infectious diseases. The standards are reviewed annually and are set out in the CHeCS Technical Document, published on the CHeCS website.

It is anticipated that the majority of queries from members of a CHeCS Health scheme or their veterinary surgeons will be resolved by the CHeCS Health Scheme Provider. In the event that this is not the case, a farmer may raise an Appeal about a herd’s health status in writing with CHeCS via email info@checs.co.uk or by post to: CHeCS, PO Box 126, Leominster, HR6 6DG.

If the CHeCS Technical Document rules have not been followed, appeals will only be considered in truly exceptional circumstances.

An Appeal must include:

  • Farmer name
  • Farm name
  • Business name
  • Postal address
  • Contact email address
  • Disease in question
  • The issue
  • Relevant test results and dates
  • Any exceptional circumstances that may have an impact on the appeal

CHeCS will acknowledge receipt of the appeal to the Appellant by email and will issue an invoice to for £100.

Please note that there is a charge of £100 for an Appeal towards administration costs.
Cost

What happens next?

The next stage of the Appeals Process will only commence upon receipt of the funds.

Appeals will be considered by a Panel consisting of a minimum of three CHeCS Board Members, which will include a minimum of two veterinary surgeons. The Appeals Panel agree to treat the information provided in an Appeal in confidence.

The Appellant should be aware that the Appeals Panel members all have full time jobs outside of CHeCS and that their involvement with CHeCS is in a voluntary capacity, so therefore a response from the Appeals Panel will not be immediate.

The Appeals Panel may request further information from the Appellant, their private vet or their CHeCS Health Scheme Provider to help assist with their decision making. Further information which may be relevant in certain circumstances may include, but not be limited to:

  • Up to ten years of the herd health status history for the appropriate CHeCS listed disease and any other relevant diagnostic disease reports
  • History of TB and TB testing in the herd over the relevant period • Number of animals in herd over the same time period
  • Number of animals sampled over the same time period
  • Presence of non-accredited cattle, sheep, camelids, deer etc on the same farm
  • Details of animals’ attendance at shows and sales (name of event, dates)
  • Summary of animals entering the herd and their disease status on entering

The Panel will discuss the Appeal, provide their views to CHeCS and, once a decision has been reached a response will be agreed and communicated back to the Appellant. The decision made by the Appeals Panel will be final.