EU insistence on sheep ID may see farmers leaving

Apr 9 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

THE European Commission’s plans to introduce compulsory electronic identification (EID) for sheep could lead to a significant number of farmers leaving the industry, the NFU warned this week.

Livestock industry and Government representatives from around the UK met with members of the Commission last week to raise long-standing concerns about the compulsory introduction of EID, which is expected to take place in 2010.

Following the meeting, NFU livestock board chairman Alistair Mackintosh said little headway had been made in meeting farmers’ concerns over the cost implications and practicality of the proposed system.

He said: “If it is implemented in its current form, this plan could lead to a significant number of farmers leaving the industry. The NFU will continue to oppose the plan despite Brussels’ determination to impose another raft of unnecessary regulation that we don’t need and can ill-afford to pay for. The imposition of EID has little to offer farmers in terms of greater efficiency and we would question its value in helping to control disease. The system we currently have in place is more than capable of tracing sheep back to their original holding.

“However, the Commission is insistent that EID will have to be introduced by 2010 and, while there are certain areas that appear non-negotiable, the NFU has identified a number of areas where flexibility may be possible to reduce the impact on the UK sheep industry.”

Under the legislation, all animals born after December 31, 2009, must be identified with an electronic form of identification, and the movement of each animal must be recorded and reported.

More than 60% of the North East is classed as upland and farming plays a huge part in maintaining the famous landscape of the region.

Fears have been expressed that undergrazing and dereliction could have a devastating and lasting impact on the region.

NFU North East regional director Richard Ellison said: “British farmers produce some of the finest quality meat in the world and in our region it’s a real speciality.

“But unless things improve, we’re worried that not only will consumers be unable to buy British, the landscape will suffer as a consequence – with upland areas most at risk from undergrazing and agricultural dereliction.”