ICSFA strongly objects to electronic sheep-tagging being introduced

THE Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSFA) has strongly objected to the introduction of electronic sheep-tagging.

Sheep Committee chairman Mervyn Sunderland and general secretary Eddie Punch said they made strong representations on the issue to European Commission officials at a meeting in Brussels.

Mr Sunderland said the whole electronic identification proposal was a knee-jerk response to the disastrous 2001 handling of the foot and mouth disease in Britain.

However, lessons had been learned from that experience and the British were able to effectively control the spread of foot and mouth disease in 2007 without recourse to electronic identification.

Mr Sunderland said a study undertaken for the EU put the cost for Britain alone at between €35 million and €70m, 90% of which would be carried by farmers.

“This cost will further damage the competitiveness of the EU sheep sector. This is further compounded by the fact sheep meat imported from outside the EU will have been produced without the cost of EID. Once again the EU has contrived to create an uneven playing pitch which discriminates against its producers.”

Mr Sunderland said it appears there is a willingness to look at possible flexibilities in the implementation of EID subject to compliance with the articles of the regulation.

Eddie Punch said the ongoing need to replace lost tags would significantly add to the cost for farmers.

Meanwhile, a regulation on the introduction into the EU of small quantities of animal products intended for personal consumption comes into force today.

The measure aims to help reduce the risks of importing serious animal diseases into the EU. It brings together in one legal text the different weight limits for the quantities of products of animal origin that can be introduced into the EU by travellers or sent through the post.

The introduction of meat, milk and their products, with a few exceptions, is not permitted. Small quantities of fishery products or other products of animal origin, such as honey and snails for example, are allowed as long as they are intended for personal consumption.