Mackintosh makes his point
Alistair Mackintosh, NFU livestock board chairman, speaks out on Sheep EID in this week's Farmers Guardian. The article which the NFU sent to FG is posted below:
The NFU is totally opposed to compulsory EID and firmly believe that our current ID and batch recording system is a simple, efficient and cost effective measure which helps control the spread of Animal diseases. We will leave no stone unturned in our fight at an EU and domestic level to get this regulation reviewed.
Despite our fundamental opposition to the principle of the regulation, we believe that the regulation can offer the opportunity for a significant percentage of our flock to be marketed without the need to EID and individually record.
It saddens me to see the half truths and myths that are currently being perpetuated by some within our industry. The flexibilities on offer will afford the opportunity for us to minimise the cost impact and equally as important the practical impact on our farms of the regulation.
The regulation allows for animals intended for slaughter before the age of 12 months to be tagged with a single non EID tag. These animals can then be moved on a "batch basis" with no requirement to individually record animal details on a farmers holding register from the 1st January 2010 or to individually record animal details on a movement document from 1st January 2011, this is not the case if the animal has an EID tag.
Farmers who send their lambs from the holding of birth direct to slaughter or to slaughter via a livestock market may wish to take up this option. The ability to move slaughter lambs on a batch basis will also minimise recording requirements for farmers moving lambs between holdings within the same ownership for example.
Any additional regulatory requirements above the EU regulation will also mean a further Cross Compliance requirement to adhere to; we cannot support any proposal that asks our Government to effectively "gold plate" an EU regulation.
The NFU fully recognise the significant problem caused by the selling and moving of mixed groups of lambs from various flocks, this is commonly phrased "batch within batch" movement recording. The difficulties that large quantities of mixed batches would pose to store lamb finishers and live auction markets has not been underestimated by the NFU , and we are committed to working towards industry based rather than regulatory solutions to this issue.
There is still much to fight for on EID and individual recording of sheep in terms of holding register requirements, lost tags, recording requirements for within business moves and how the regulation will be policed and enforced. We have an obligation to farmers to address all these issues.
Our members tell us clearly that in the absence of stopping EID altogether we must deliver as much flexibility and leeway within the regulation as we can. This is not just my view it is the view of my Livestock Board and it is the overwhelming view of farmers up and down the country that I speak to on a daily basis.
Millions of lambs have the potential to be marketed without the need of an EID tag and individual recording requirements; it is not my role to seek additional regulation.
Those who seek to implement the regulation in full must be aware of the full cost implications and impact on our entire sheep industry.
