FG says Ireland should oppose EC move on bovine electronic tagging

PLANS are being made by the European Commission for the electronic identification of cattle next year.

But the Fine Gael spokesman on agriculture, Michael Creed TD, said Ireland should not be co-operative with the move.

He said Ireland has a traceability system for beef which was shown to work any time it was challenged.

Ireland does not need to satisfy some consultants’ exercise an electronic identification system for cattle, he said.

Mr Creed raised the issue in the Dáil when he asked Minister of State Tony Killeen if he had made submissions to the commission opposing the proposed electronic tagging of cows.

Mr Killeen said the commission has made no proposal on electronic identification of cattle at this stage. His department is represented on a working group set up by the commission to discuss developments on bovine identification.

“I understand that plans are being formulated for the introduction in 2011 of a regulation for the implementation of an electronic identification system for bovines on a voluntary basis,” he said.

Mr Killeen said his department will continue to be represented at the working group on bovine identification.

It will participate fully in discussions on any proposals to ensure account is taken of Ireland’s interests, he said.