Electronic tagging fight continues
The NFU will reiterate its total opposition to the proposed introduction of compulsory electronic identification (EID) and individual recording of sheep at a conference with European industry bodies in Brussels this week.
NFU livestock board chairman Alistair Mackintosh will join representatives from farming organisations across the EU at a hearing on EID for sheep and goats at the European Parliament on Wednesday (January 28).
Mr Mackintosh said: "We have opposed these plans to electronically tag the nation’s sheep flock and individually record all sheep movements ever since the proposal was first announced and we will continue the fight until all avenues have been explored.
"I am extremely concerned that the additional costs and recording requirements associated with these new regulations will force many more producers out of the industry and reduce the national flock further. We have made a clear case to the Commission that the arguments for introducing this burdensome and costly regulation are completely unjustified.
"UK sheep farmers can ill afford to take on another set of rules and regulations which have absolutely no cost benefit. Our present ID and batch recording system, combined with EU and domestic movement standstills, are a simple, efficient and cost effective measure which helps control the spread of animal diseases.
"We are continuing to work tirelessly in Europe to bring other Member States and policymakers on side and this work will carry on at Wednesday’s meeting and beyond. This is not just a UK issue - it will have a major effect on every member state."
Mr Mackintosh urged all sheep farmers to complete the survey issued by the NFU in conjunction with NFU Cymru and NFU Scotland about how the proposed introduction of electronic identification and individual recording will influence their intentions to continue keeping sheep.
"The results of this survey will provide us with valuable information which we can use to highlight the views of sheep producers to politicians and the effect the new rules would have on the national sheep flock," he said.
