Argyll & Bute MSP Jim Mather has welcomed a clarifying statement issued today from his colleague Richard Lochhead, MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, on the controversial EU proposals about sheep tagging.
New European rules requiring sheep to be electronically tagged are to be simplified for the Scottish farming industry, reducing bureaucracy and keeping trade efficient.
The Scottish Government will also support the industry transition to full electronic identification (EID) by covering the additional cost of tags for all farms taking part in the #3 million EID research pilot. The pilot is to be extended to continue to identify workable solutions that will further reduce industry costs and all farms will be eligible to take part.
An extra £1 million will be made available to pay for the tags on farms taking part in the research pilot. This is part of a package of measures announced by Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead, which also
includes:
* Introducing critical control points allowing tags to be scanned at markets or abattoirs, reducing costs to farmers by 50 per cent - a saving of £4 million across the sector
* Permitting the use of batch recording for 'within business' moves, removing the need to individually record animals which move between holdings in a business
* Enhancing the new database, which is part of the research pilot, to develop the long term benefits of EID, leading to quicker and more accurate systems.
* Allowing the use of single tags for animals due for slaughter within 12 months
* Funding of up to £1000 per farm to assist those who choose to purchase electronic reading equipment for on-farm management purposes, through the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP)
Mr Lochhead said:
Following two years of wrangling in Europe to achieve greater flexibility on tagging for Scottish farmers, we won important concessions to reduce its impact and cut farmers' costs by around 50 per cent. Now that we must implement these rules, I am keen we keep the system as simple as possible and maximise the opportunity to build on the excellent reputation that Scotch lamb already enjoys at home and abroad.
That is why I have decided, following thorough consultation with the industry, that all sheep should be electronically tagged, including those sent for slaughter. This will keep paperwork to a minimum, maintain traditional market patterns and allow markets and abattoirs to operate as critical control points to the benefit of the whole sector.
The Scottish Government will be supporting the industry through the transition to full electronic identification over the coming year. We will be providing funding of £1 million to cover the additional cost of EID tags on partner farms, which will range from as little as £10 per farm to several hundred pounds, and offering up to £1000 per farm for those who choose to buy on-farm electronic reading equipment.
We will continue to fight for further concessions, including not having to tag animals until they leave the farm of their birth for the first time, which would assist hill sheep farmers in particular. Now that Europe has a new Commissioner, we have an opportunity to argue for these concessions and will be seeking an early opportunity to do so."
Working with stakeholders, the Scottish Government has already fought for and secured a number of concessions in Europe:
* approval of critical control points, which means tags are scanned at markets or abattoirs rather than on farms, slashing farmers' costs by about 50 per cent
* phasing in of individual recording requirement for animals to significantly reduce the burden - tags and farm holding registers from 2010, movement documents from 2011, all animals (ie. including those born before January 1, 2010) from 2012
Detailed guidance on EID will be issued to all sheep and goat farmers and is available online at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/Agriculture/animal-welfare/Diseases/IDtraceability/SheepandGoats
For information on the Scottish EID research pilot go to:
www.scoteid.com
