Deadline for sheep EID extended
The Commission’s Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health has voted in favour of the postponement.
EID for sheep was agreed at EU level in late 2003, but deferred first to 2008, and subsequently to December 31, 2009.
Ireland has already availed of an EU derogation to confine mandatory EID to breeding sheep, and to live sheep being exported.
The deadline extension postpones a substantial administrative burden for farmers, in manual recording of individual numbers or upgrading animals to electronic tags.
