Institute tightens measures to try and sustain trade during lockdown
The Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IAAS) has updated its advice to auction marts in efforts to support firms to continue trading responsibly throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.
IAAS, the representative body for livestock markets, valuers and auctioneers across Scotland, believes the continued operation of livestock marts is vital to ensure the supply of quality produce, gives confidence to consumers across the country that supplies will be uninterrupted and provides reassurance to farmers and other primary producers that their cash flows will be maintained.
While people should check specific access and sale arrangements direct with individual auction companies, IAAS, which has been supporting marts with ensuring they have the latest public health advice, has shared updated recommendations for its members to follow.
Vulnerable People
- Anyone who has been in contact with a COVID19 case or has been in a high-risk area must not attend sales.
- Anyone over the age of 70 must not attend sales.
- Anyone displaying any illness or symptoms of any illness or has any underlying health problem must not attend.
- Pregnant ladies and children must not attend sales.
- General public, trade and others not directly involved in sales must not to attend.
Farmers delivering livestock to auction marts
- Deliveries made to marts as normal via livestock trailers/hauliers.
- Hauliers/farmers to unload livestock into pen beside loading bay.
- Mart staff collect required paperwork from driver across biosecurity line or via email (preferable) ensuring maximum social distance is maintained.
- Farmer/haulier to leave premises.
- Mart staff to collect livestock from the loading bay pens and pen up in the mart.
- Vendors MUST NOT take paperwork to mart offices or enter the mart at any time or for any reason.
- A MINIMUM DISTANCE OF 2 METRES MUST BE MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES.
- Vendor should be reminded they must cleanse and disinfect their vehicles before transporting any other animals and in any case within 24 hours of the journey.
Buyers coming to auction marts to purchase livestock
- Any buyer must pre-register their attendance at any sale. Only buyers known to marts should be permitted access.
- The number of buyers MUST be restricted to allow social distancing (min 2 metres between each buyer). The number of buyers a sale can accept will depend upon the size and layout of sale rings. It is recommended that areas are marked to clearly show the spacing required.
- Buyer must declare that they have not been in contact with a positive COVID-19 case nor have visited a high-risk area during the previous 14 days.
- Buyers to sign in and out of auction mart premises. Mart MUST keep a register of those who attended their sales. This includes name, address and telephone number.
- Where possible buyers should be asked to ‘double up’ or provide orders to reduce numbers of buyers attending.
- At the conclusion of the sale buyers MUST be asked to enter the sales office in a way that maintains social distancing and absolutely ensures the 2m rule is observed.
- Suitable bio-security measures will be in place and available – hand washing facilities/hand gels/foot dips etc. Buyers MUST use these on entry and exit.
- No additional visitors will be admitted to the mart on sale days outside of key staff and registered buyers.
Removal of stock post auction
- Hauliers/farmers arrive at mart in normal manner; however, they are to remain in vehicles until loading bay space becomes available.
- Reverse to loading bays and, from a safe distance of at least 2 metres, inform the mart staff of consignment to collect.
- Mart staff to deliver livestock to pens beside loading bays and haulier/farmer should complete the loading of the lorry/trailer.
- Mart staff to share paperwork with driver as required across the biosecurity line ensuring a safe distance maintained. Mart staff to retain maximum social distance possible from vehicle driver and ensure it is a minimum of 2 metres.
- Haulier/farmer leaves the site.
Food/Mart Cafes
- Complete closure of cafes including for take away food.
- All potential gathering points should be closed off.
General
- The sale of prime stock, cull animals and store stock is still permitted.
- The sale of all breeding stock through the live ring MUST cease immediately. This category of sale includes, but is not limited to, dairy animals, breeding cattle, breeding sheep, ewes with lambs at foot etc.
- It is recommended that all other sales are cancelled with immediate effect.
- Marts MUST be thoroughly cleaned down after every sale.
- Operators should review contingency plans on an ongoing basis and at all times follow HPS’s COVID-19 guidance for non-healthcare settings. https://hpspubsrepo.blob.core.windows.net/hps-website/nss/2973/documents/1_covid-19- guidance-for-non-healthcare-settings.pdf