Prosecutorial oversight in the agricultural sector

The Prosecutor's Office of the Braslaŭ District has conducted inspections of agricultural facilities located in the district regarding compliance with legislation aimed at preserving the population of cattle.

The results of inspections of livestock facilities conducted by the Prosecutor's Office of the Braslaŭ District in November of this year indicate that the measures taken by the leaders of agricultural organizations in the district to ensure the preservation of livestock are clearly insufficient.

Numerous instances of mismanagement, unsanitary conditions, and violations of the requirements of the Resolution of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Belarus dated 04.06.2018 No. 16 "Organizational and Technological Requirements for Milk Production at Industrial-Type Dairy Complexes", Veterinary and Sanitary Rules for the Maintenance and Breeding of Cattle at Livestock Complexes, approved by the Resolution of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Belarus dated 23.02.2018 No. 30, as well as Veterinary and Sanitary Rules for the Maintenance of Milking Animals and Milk Production at Dairy Farms, approved by the Resolution of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Belarus dated 29.01.2019 No. 10 at the livestock facilities of agricultural enterprises in the district have been identified.

At the farms of certain agricultural enterprises in the district, the cleaning of livestock premises is not carried out in a timely manner, the replacement of bedding material and the cleaning of the animals' skin are not performed properly. In addition, the presence of other types of animals (cats, dogs, horses) is allowed in the farm premises. During a visit to one of the agricultural enterprises' farms, it was found that the cattle kept on the farm had not been fed.

The areas for keeping newborn calves are in a dilapidated state, not insulated, timely feeding of newborn calves is not carried out, and the water tanks are empty.

As a result of the inspections, instances of non-compliance with the provisions of the Resolution of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Belarus dated 29.01.2018 No. 5 "On the Approval of Veterinary and Sanitary Rules for the Production, Procurement, and Storage of Feed and Feed Additives" have also been identified.

Thus, various types of compound feed (depending on the feeding period) at the farms of many agricultural enterprises in the district were stored on dirty floors, in a scattered manner in utility rooms mixed with flour of their own grinding.

The provisions of Resolutions No. 16 and No. 10 regarding the implementation of production control ensuring the receipt of raw milk of guaranteed quality are also not being followed.

Thus, the production premises where milking equipment and devices for milking are stored are in unsanitary conditions, with wet floors and walls, and leaking roofs. This, in turn, affects the quality of the supplied milk.

As a result of the inspections, it has also been established that cases of violations of the requirements of the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On the Identification, Registration, and Traceability of Agricultural Animals (Herds), Identification and Traceability of Animal Products" still occur.

The violations identified as a result of the inspections conducted by the district prosecutor's office indicate insufficient work by the agricultural organizations in the district aimed at careful and efficient use of property, ensuring the preservation of cattle at livestock complexes and dairy farms.

Based on the results of the inspection, a presentation was made to the First Deputy Chairman of the Braslaŭ District Executive Committee, the Head of the Department of Agriculture and Food, demanding strict compliance with the requirements of veterinary and sanitary legislation regulating the maintenance of cattle, storage of feed and feed additives, and that the leaders of agricultural organizations in the district strictly adhere to the requirements of the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On the Identification, Registration, and Traceability of Agricultural Animals (Herds), Identification and Traceability of Animal Products".

Deputy Prosecutor of the Braslaŭ District S.P. Harbus