Sponsored by
Progress hope after latest push on EID rejected
A UK push for another derogation to soften the impact of EU regulations for the electronic identification of animals (EID) failed last week. But there is still a chance of some progress
The new Farming Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick, went to the Council of Agriculture Ministers on June 22 with a proposal that EID tags need not be fitted to sheep or goats until they were being moved from their birth farms.
David Airey, NFU chairman for West Yorkshire and a lead negotiator for the sheep farmers, said the idea was a good one, although not a solution to all the problems posed. But after a late-night session of the Council of Ministers considered it under Any Other Business, Mr Fitzpatrick reported:
"There was not enough support." He committed himself to the previous Defra line by saying: "I believe that the costs to the industry of implementing the EID regulations far outweigh the benefits."
And he added: "We are still working with the Commission on proposals which could reduce implementation costs for the UK sheep industry and will continue to work to put in place a practical and workable solution from December 31, 2009."
Peter Morris, chief executive of the National Sheep Association (NSA), said one good possibility still open was an agreement that sheep need not be recorded moving off the farm if they were to be recorded on arrival at markets and abattoirs. That could be organised without a formal vote.
But the NSA and most other farming bodies still feel they are being made to make the best of a bad job and continue to push for postponement.
Exmoor sheep farmer Richard Webber, founder of one of the big EID systems suppliers, Shearwell Data, has accused farmers and auctioneers of finding problems with the systems because they do not want them to succeed.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Three-inch blanket of snow heading our way today
- Alan Shearer in list of favourites for Leeds and England jobs: Latest odds
- Barnsley’s Keith Hill invokes Fawlty Towers over link with Leeds job
- McCormack feels United search can be narrowed down
- Redfearn throws down gauntlet as queue builds at Elland Road
- Rival chips in with £500,000 to restore the original Harry Ramsden’s
- Visit from Princess as Serbian culture celebrated
- Was this woman on your train to Manchester Airport?
- SportsTalk: Leeds United’s manager search, Super League and Calcutta Cup
- Libraries aren’t like supermarkets, they are magical places where dreams begin
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Yorkshire
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
