Compulsory electronic sheep tagging ‘burden on farmers’

COMPULSORY electronic tagging of sheep would have severe detrimental consequences for the sector, the Irish Farmers Association warned yesterday.

Sheep Committee chairman Henry Burns said it would impose an impossible burden on farmers, marts and processors.

“Electronic tagging of sheep is unproven, impractical and unsuitable in Irish conditions. Up to 30% of sheep farmers could be driven out of business with output losses of €60 million and massive job losses,” he said

Mr Burns said electronic identification will not bring any benefits in terms of traceability or animal health over and above the current system of individual identification.

He urged Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith and the Government to redouble their efforts at European Union level to explain to the commission that it must change from compulsory electronic identification to a voluntary system.

“It is not acceptable that the commission continues to ignore the governments of Ireland, Britain, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania and Hungry all of which are seeking to have electronic sheep identification made voluntary,” he said

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association said it strongly condemned last week’s decision of the EU Farm Council to uphold the introduction of mandatory electronic sheep tagging.

Sheep Committee chairman Mervyn Sunderland said this proposal is short-sighted and will prove a devastating blow for the Irish sheep sector.

“This, coupled with low profit margins being achieved in recent years, will drive even more farmers out of the industry.

“It’s another glaring example of excessive and out of touch European bureaucracy with no thought given to the implications for the industry or for farmers on the ground.

“In some cases the process, between the cost of tags, scanning equipment and labour, will amount to more than the value of the animal,” he said.

Mr Sunderland said there is no direct benefit to farmers or consumers by the introduction of electronic tagging. The current system that is in place is working well at ensuring traceability and disease control.

“Electronic tagging will introduce another unnecessary burden on farmers who are hard pressed to make a living as it is,” he said.