IN ORDER to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Division (RPID) Offices have restricted farm inspection activity until further notice.
"Specifically, we have suspended inspections where there is a requirement for close contact with customers," said SGRPID. "On that basis we will not undertake any new livestock inspections or surveillance agricultural wages inspections until further notice. However we are still undertaking potato tuber inspections but with additional measures to ensure we limit contact with the grower/farmer.
"In addition we will continue with capital inspections, such as those associated with Agri-Environment and Climate Scheme (AECS), Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme (CAGS) or LEADER, where we can undertake these inspections without face to face contact with the customer and where we are not required to travel by public transport," thed department clarified. "We will be making contact with customers by telephone in advance and will arrange appropriate social distancing measures on each of these inspections taking into account any concerns raised by the customer."
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