In a letter to Scottish MEP Alyn Smith, the Austrians backed the fight against the regulations, joining a growing list of countries in opposition.

Austria's Department for Agriculture said it felt EID would be ‘problematic' and confirmed the government ‘advocate the request of avoiding obligatory electronic identification and choosing optional electronic identification.'

The Austrian response follows similar messages from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Ireland - who have all backed Mr Smith's campaign to have the regulations made voluntary.

Mr Smith said: “Each country that comes forward with a clear and determined stance against the introduction of compulsory electronic tagging is another step forward for this campaign.

“And we are getting there. The Poles, Lithuanians, Latvians, Irish and now Austrians are supporting our moves and I remain confident that similar responses will continue to come into my office in the next few weeks.

“I will not let this rest. The support is there across the EU and I want to see this brought back on to the Council agenda.

“I am only after one small change – just make this regulation voluntary. For those farmers who feel that EID offers benefits for their stock management practices then let them use the technology but do not force it on an industry that is in no position to take on these extra costs.”

Meanwhile, NFU livestock board chairman Alistair Mackintosh travelled to Germany yesterday (Monday, June 1) to meet with farming unions from across Europe to gather more support against the plans.