NFUS CALLS FOR SHEEP EID REGULATION REVIEW

Although controversial new regulations on electronic identification of sheep have yet to come in to force, NFU Scotland has used a meeting with the European Parliament’s Petitions Committee to urge Europe to agree to a prompt review of the damaging new rules.

European Regulation 21/2004, which comes in to force at the end of the year, will make it obligatory for all Scottish sheep keepers to electronically tag many sheep born after 31 December 2009 and keep a record of animals’ individual identities every time they move. The Scottish Government is currently considering how the regulation will be implemented in Scotland.

In opposition to the proposals, NFU Scotland, The Scottish Farmer magazine and others provisionally presented a petition to the European Parliament in July 2008, signed by more than 8200 Scottish sheep farmers. NFU Scotland Vice-President, Nigel Miller, was back in Brussels today (Tuesday, 1 December) to formally meet with the Petitions Committee on the regulation.

At an earlier meeting with European Commission official, it was pointed out that financial support for managing the transition to EID is available in Europe and NFUS will be looking to the Scottish Government to draw down funds for Scottish sheep farmers.

Speaking from Brussels, Nigel Miller said:

"As a Union, we remain committed to seeking fundamental changes to controversial sheep identification regulations in the future - the 8200 people who signed the Scottish EID petition last year would expect no less. Having Sheep EID discussed in Brussels again is part of a wholly justifiable campaign for fundamental change in the future that will not go away.

"As all Member States wake up to the implications of implementing EU Regulation 21/2004 this January, we plan to keep the issue in the spotlight. We will continue to do that until Commission officials finally comprehend the unnecessary cost and bureaucracy they have heaped on all European sheep keepers and agree to a prompt review of this poor piece of legislation.

"Unfortunately, the debate will not alter that fact that we have a matter of weeks left to try and find some kind of workable format for its implementation in Scotland and we will continue to work with Scottish Government to deliver that.

“What is apparent from discussions with the Commission today is that funding is available to help all European sheep keepers manage the transition to electronic tagging. With Scottish Government help, we will immediately look at how we can draw that money down into Scotland’s rural development pot so that Scottish sheep farmers can receive support for the additional costs their businesses face as a result of this regulation.”