Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir defends claims of mismanagement at AFBI farm in Hillsborough

AFBI has also said it ‘strenuously refutes’ any suggestions of poor farming practices relating to animal health and welfare at it’s Hillsborough farm.

A video statement from Prof Elizabeth Magowan of AFBI was aired following a GB news report which showed videos and photographs taken at the research farm provided by a ‘whistle blower’.

The report on GB News highlighted concerns around animal welfare and environmental controls at the farm.

And today in the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs at Stormont, DAERA Minister Muir was told ‘you haven't enjoyed the full confidence of, particularly the farming sector’ after ‘a whistleblower made claims which made its way into the media’.

He was asked by Chair UUP MLA Robbie Butler: ‘What are you doing to do to restore confidence in yourself?’

Minister Muir said: ‘So in relation to the allegations around AFBI, the committee have shared those with ourselves.

‘We have engaged with you. I know the AFBI were in with yourselves in regards to this, and I think it's important I set it out again for the record in relation to the situation that has been reported in recent days, because as a department, we take animal welfare issues and also responsibilities to the environment extremely seriously.

‘And in relation to the allegations that were raised with us, action was promptly taken in regards to that so on receipt of those allegations, inspections of the site by both veterinary service and Northern Ireland Environment Agency took place on the 28th of October.

‘The inspection by veterinary service found no issues of concern, and the inspection by Northern Ireland environment agency confirmed that allegations of slurry spread outside the permitted period were unfounded.

‘The Northern Ireland Environment Agency inspection did, however, identify a sewage fungus in a waterway below the farm, which was assessed as a low severity incident.

‘Remedial action was requested and carried out.

‘NIEA determined that formal enforcement action was not required’.

He added that ‘Northern Ireland food chain certification, which provides inspection and certification services for Northern Ireland beef and lamb farm quality assurance scheme and red tractor also carried out an audit of the site in respect of its certifications on the sixth of November of last year, at AFBI’s request, and AFBI’s accreditation was maintained.

‘AFBI senior officials appeared before the committee on the 29th of January of this year to brief the Committee on the recent AFBI data breach’.

He added: ‘AFBI reviewed the images and provided explanations for each’ and the ‘majority of the photos appear to relate to circumstances in 2023 and 2024 and since this time, there have been changes in line managers and line management structures’.

‘Departmental officials from veterinary service and NEA have also reviewed the images and confirmed no additional actions were necessary.

‘After we have taken several additional steps to strengthen controls and oversight of the Hillsborough farm, including convening a board subgroup to review relevant documentation and make recommendations they see fit regarding standards of the Hillsborough farm.

‘The subgroup is expected to deliver a report by April 2026’.