An essential prerequisite for eligibility under the TB and brucellosis eradication hardship arrangements is that the holding of the herdowner in question remains restricted following a full herd retest. The eligibility period for the 1998-99 hardship grant scheme was 1 November 1998 to 30 April 1999.
Following the disclosure of a TB lesion on 11 December 1998, the holding of the person named was restricted on 15 December 1998. The herd was scheduled for a balance of herd test on 21 February 1999 with a full herd re-test at a later date. However the herdowner deferred the balance of herd test scheduled for 21 February 1999 until 18 May 1999, which is outside the eligibility period of the 1998-99 hardship grant scheme. The herdowner concerned is not, therefore, entitled to any hardship grant payment as a key payment criterion was not met.