Sheep EID database a growing concern

Welsh upland farmers are extremely concerned about the new sheep EID database set to be introduced by the Welsh government, according to the NFU.

Sheep farming predominates in the upland areas of Meirionnydd and red tape is the main concern to those farmers present at the recent NFU County meeting.

Trefor Hughes, Meirionnydd NFU Cymru County Chairman said, "I fear that commitments by the Welsh Government, to move forward with a bespoke sheep electronic movement reporting service for Wales, with little consultation with the industry could have big consequences for sheep farmers like myself."

"We have many questions that need to be answered by the Welsh Government before such a system is introduced. Many local farmers send their sheep away for wintering in England, so how will the cross border movements be dealt with given that the likelihood is that separate databases will be operating in Wales and England? We only need to deal with one point of contact for all our sheep movements and our statutory reporting requirements must remain a free to use service."

Members present at the meeting also felt it important that the proposed database linked in with the Farm Assurance Scheme in Wales.

Mr Hughes said, "Regulation is expensive - for both the Government and industry and at a time of unprecedented cuts in public spending, it is more important than ever for Wales to make best use of its limited resources. There must be the capability for the Welsh Government database to be linked to the Farm Assurance Scheme in Wales to reduce Government cost and industry red-tape."

Mr Hughes ended, "Last but not least the reporting service must be ’future proofed’ to allow for changes in legislation and to allow for the possible inclusion of other species."