Taranaki farmer fined $15,000 for illegal NAIT tag swapping
A Taranaki farmer and livestock agent who illegally swapped NAIT tags from cows infected with a bovine disease in an attempt to sell the cows has been fined $15,000.
The Hound hears that a Christchurch ambulance chaser (lawyer) is trying to put together a group action against the livestock firms tied up in a Commerce Commission case over the NAIT scheme.
Your old mate understands the said lawyer is interested in bringing a group representative action to recover a proportion of the fees overcharged to farmers as a result of the unlawful agreements between the firms and parties involved. The case relates to complaints about livestock firms overcharging for ear tags and collection of fees for entry into the NAIT system. The Hound understands an application has already been made to the High Court at Auckland for access to the court's file on the case. Watch this space.
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