ENGLISH beef producers stand to lose as much as £65m a year through late cattle passport applications, the English Beef and Lamb Executive warned this week.

From October 31, the British Cattle Movement Service will not automatically issue cattle passports for any applications for home-bred or bought-in calves received after the legal deadline of 27 days from birth.

Instead, these animals will be provided with a registration document confirming they have been registered under the Cattle Tracing System, but will be refused a passport.

"This will prevent them entering the food chain under any circumstances and render them ineligible for bovine subsidies - in other words, making them worthless," said Duncan Sinclair, MLC beef economist.

"With late applications running at about 7pc, Meat and Livestock Commission calculations indicate this will cut about £65m a year from the value of English beef stock. "What is more, animals without passports will still count towards Extensification Payment Scheme stocking densities."

Mr Sinclair said it was vital for producers to redouble their efforts to avoid late applications from now on.

In particular, he advised them to:

* submit applications as soon as possible after calves are born or acquired on temporary passports, rather than in batches on a monthly basis;

* lodge applications rapidly, rather than waiting, where dam details are missing, supplying the additional information subsequently (passports will not be issued until all the data is provided but the original application date will stand);

* apply electronically through CTS Online wherever possible for the greatest safety, speed and convenience;

* allow for reasonable delivery times if applying by post, and consider obtaining certificates of posting as evidence that applications have been made in good time;

* ensure applications arrive at BCMS on the last full working day before any weekend or public holiday deadline;

* follow-up applications with BCMS if neither passports nor queries are received after two weeks - through CTS Online or by phone.

"Making all passport applications well ahead of the legal deadline will pay obvious dividends for individual producers," said Mr Sinclair. "It will also help to ensure the entire Cattle Tracing System works as efficiently and effectively as possible."

The NFU this week backed the BCMS's intention to refuse passports for applications received after the legal deadline.

Tim Bennett, deputy president, said: "This move is important for building consumer confidence. Complying with the EU regulations and registering animals with CTS is vital for prompt subsidy payment and for disease control.

"Complying with the regulations will make life simpler for the country's livestock farmers as it should enable the CTS database to become "fully operational" as defined by the EU authorities. This would permit the number of farm inspection visits to be halved and do away with the need for paper passports for animals moving within the UK.