UK - Farm unions socked at potential impact of EID

A significant percentage of the nation’s sheep flock could disappear if EU rules to electronically identify and individually record sheep are introduced, as planned, on January 1 2010. This is according to a survey of around 1,000 livestock producers carried out recently by the NFU, NFU Scotland and NFU Cymru.

"These losses in sheep numbers will have a significant impact on the processing sector and a detrimental effect on the nation’s rural economy," said the leaders of the UK Farming Unions during a meeting held in Belfast today.

According to the survey, which was carried out during January and February 2009, 67 per cent of England’s producers said that they would reduce their flock if individual recording and EID is introduced. Of the flock keepers who will reduce their flock numbers 45 per cent said they might get rid of all their sheep.

Meurig Raymond, NFU Deputy President said: "These survey figures are extremely worrying and speak for themselves when it comes to the level of concern amongst farmers in regards to this regulation being introduced. On the back of this data we will continue to put pressure on the European Commission and the next opportunity to do this will be at the Council of Ministers meeting on Monday."