A Gozo farmer’s 220 sheep, which had not been registered, can be culled after a magistrate revoked an order stopping their slaughter, unless an appeal is filed.

Magistrate Josette Demicoli ruled the culling was justified to safeguard public health. She said the decision by the veterinary authorities in the long-running case was taken within the parameters of the law because of an automatic suspicion that unregistered animals were ill.

Gianni Attard had taken court action against the Department of Veterinary Services in an attempt to stop it from slaughtering the sheep.

In November 2012, the authorities culled 216 sheep while Mr Attard was under arrest at the Victoria police station in connection with the registration of the animals.

The sheep, estimated to cost in the region of €520,000, had been tested and none of them were sick. The rest of the herd has been confined to Mr Attard’s farm in Għarb under constant police watch to ensure no animals are removed and their produce is not sold.

More details in Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium.

See also: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131107/local/Culled-sheep-were-not-sick-tests-show.493614

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