MEP: The cost of electronic sheep tagging far outweighs the benefits

By Ray Ryan

Saturday, December 05, 2009

THE cost of electronic sheep tagging far outweighs the benefits with regard to traceability, the European Parliament has been told.

Marian Harkin, MEP, said the introduction of this measure could actually be the death knell for the sheep industry in Ireland.

She was speaking in support of a petition that a cost benefit analysis of the implications of electronic sheep tagging for farmers should be carried out before it is introduced in the European Union.

According to EU legislation, she said electronic tagging will come into force on January 1. Documents show that over 90% of the cost will occur on farms, with farmers paying virtually all of it.

"In a country like Ireland where 77% of flocks contain less than 100 animals, the cost per sheep will escalate and will make an already difficult enterprise totally unviable," she said.

Marian Harkin said Irish sheep farmers will be doubly disadvantaged, firstly in relation to other EU sheep farmers with larger flocks and lower costs and secondly because several member states are funding much of the costs involved.

"However, they are particularly disadvantaged by imports from third world countries not being subject to the same traceability regime imposed on EU farmers," she said.

Ms Harkin said a number of member states are recognising the consequences of the decision which was taken in the wake of the foot and mouth crisis.

"We need to revisit this decision and carry out a cost benefit analysis before we impose further and, in my opinion, unnecessary costs on sheep farmers," she said.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Saturday, December 05, 2009