Montgomeryshire farmers call for voluntary ban
At an NFU Cymru county meeting in Newtown this week farmers expressed their strong opposition to the practice of importing Bluetongue susceptible animals from areas where the virus is currently circulating with the Union calling for "an immediate voluntary ban on all imports of such animals".
Speaking during the NFU Cymru meeting, Montgomeryshire County Branch Chairman, Bob Morgan of Llanbrynmair said, "I just cannot understand the rationale of those who are importing stock into Wales at the moment from Bluetongue infected areas when they know the vaccine would not have had time to work yet. This is members of our industry throwing caution to the wind."
Addressing the meeting was NFU Cymru Director Mary James, who stressed the importance for all livestock keepers to vaccinate as soon as possible. Mary James said, "Whilst I appreciate the purchase of vaccine will be an added and unwanted cost to your business, I regard it as a small price to pay for the protection and insurance against Bluetongue. The alternative really is unthinkable and I remain firmly of the view that we cannot afford not to vaccinate."
Mary James also told NFU Cymru members that the Union was taking its fight against Compulsory Sheep Electronic Identification (EID) and individual recording back to Brussels next week, when NFU Cymru Vice President Ed Bailey will be making a presentation to the European Agriculture Committee.
"We’ll be telling MEP’s from across Europe that compulsory EID and individual recording not only has the potential to have a damaging effect on the Welsh sheep industry, but it will also have the potential to affect the competitiveness of the entire EU sheep industry on world markets." said Mary James.
"NFU Cymru is urging every Member of the European Parliament to sign up to a written declaration, that proposes EID and individual recording as a voluntary rather than mandatory requirement.
"This is another example of Brussels bureaucrats having pie in the sky ideas, without any understanding of the practical realities of commercial sheep farming. We will leave no stone unturned in our battle to get this regulation reviewed by the EU Council of Ministers." added Mary James.
The Union is also trying to persuade the Minister for Rural Affairs, Elin Jones, to extend an urgent invitation to the EU Commissioner for Health, Androulla Vassiliou to come to Wales and see at first hand the folly of the EC’s decision to make the implementation of EID and individual recording mandatory from 1 January 2010.
