Walsh committed to sheep identification system
Responding to Fine Gael agriculture spokesman Deputy Billy Timmins, the minister said the NSIS provides the means by which each animal in the national flock can be identified and traced from birth to carcass with ensuing benefits in areas such as disease monitoring and control, consumer assurance, flock management.
“Based on its own monitoring, my department believes all aspects of NSIS including the register are generally working well,” he said. Mr Walsh said, however, he had always made it clear that specific difficulties which flock owners may encounter will be examined with a view to resolving these within the key parameters of the system. “My department is examining concerns expressed by flock owners relating to aspects of NSIS as well as a submission received in recent days from the Irish Farmers Association. Adjustments can be considered which will address the identified concerns in a manner which maintains the integrity of both the identification and traceability dimensions of NSIS and which also take account of forthcoming proposals from the EU Commission,” he said.
