United Kingdom-Ear tag debate continues.

UNITED KINGDOM-THE EAR TAG DEBATE.

The NFU has urged farmers to contribute to Defra’s consultation on proposals for the individual movement recording and electronic identification of sheep.

The Union said the consultation will give farmers the chance to have their views heard as well as giving the industry the opportunity to look at the finer details of how the government proposes the regulation will be implemented.

Alistair Mackintosh, chairman of the NFU’s livestock board, said: "While we remain fundamentally opposed to the individual movement recording of sheep we have to accept that the Commission is determined to begin implementing this regulation from the end of the year.

"This consultation will give us a chance to find out from members how they feel this regulation will affect their businesses and to look more closely at the detail of the regulation and try to find ways to minimise its impact."

Mackintosh stressed that the NFU will continue to work with Defra following Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou’s comments at the last Council of Ministers, which suggested there would be some flexibility regarding the implementation of the regulation.

"We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to make this regulation fit for purpose," said Mackintosh.

UNITED KINGDOM-EBLEX ON FRAR MONGERING.

The industry needs to be ready to tackle "simplistic" messages on meat and the environment, the chief executive of EBLEX warned.

Speaking at yesterday’s Outlook Conference, organised by EBLEX and BPEX, Richard Lowe said the "eat less meat" message to cut down on carbon emissions was a danger.

He highlighted the news that an American catering company had recently announced it had reduced its carbon footprint by 25% by no longer serving beef.

"The message to eat less meat to save the planet is simplistic and dangerous," he said. "It’s the kind of simple, headline-grabbing move we’re likely to see from uninformed organisations."

Meanwhile, Professor Robert Pickard, chairman of Which?, told delegates that demonising meat, particularly burgers was wrong. He pointed out that meat contains essential nutrients, which are unavailable in the quantities necessary through a non-meat-eating diet.

He said people keep passing the buck and it was lifestyle, rather than diet, which was the biggest problem. "Don’t demonise the beefburger in terms of it not being nutritious," he said. "A beef burger is incredibly nutritious – in fact it’s too nutritious to be eaten in excessively large quantities by sedentary human beings."