Discussions ongoing on implementation of Electronic ID

The Commissioner responsible for the introduction of individual movement recording of sheep has said there would be scope for some flexibility over its implementation. Following lobbying by the NFU, the issue was tabled by the Hungarians for discussion at Monday’s Agriculture Council in Brussels. Eight other countries came out in support of the UK stance. However, Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou confirmed the regulation will come into force on December 31 2009. The NFU will continue working closely with Defra to find ways to minimise the impact on English and Welsh sheep farmers. NFU livestock board chairman Alistair Mackintosh, who was in Brussels for the meeting along with Defra Farming and the Environment Minister Jane Kennedy, said: "We remain fundamentally opposed to the individual movement recording of sheep but the Commission is still determined to start to implement this regulation from the end of this year. However, following these discussions we believe the door is now open for further talks and we will work closely with Jane Kennedy to see what we can get from this. Our opposition to this regulation will continue. This is a bad regulation that is not fit for purpose and we owe it to our membership to keep pursuing this."