IFA warns proposed sheep tagging will seriously damage sector

THE proposed electronic tagging of sheep will inflict serious economic and unnecessary damage on the industry in Ireland, the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) warned yesterday.

A new system which provides for electronic individual identification (EID) of sheep, based on double tagging, together with a central database recording movements on a batch basis is proposed by the European Union.

However, there has been criticism from some quarters regarding the new plans with claims that it will impose an impossible burden on farmers, marts and processors.