EU Ministers to discuss EID as farmers stage protest

Following concerns raised over the regulations by the Scottish Government, the Council will discuss potential changes to the regulations and the UK will be looking to gather support from other member states.

Similar discussions were held at the last Council meeting, but with the UK receiving support from only a handful of other governments, the negotiations stalled.

Scotland’s rural affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said he was ‘delighted’ the issue was back on the agenda.

He said: “We must ensure that Scotland has an effective, efficient and workable traceability system for disease prevention and control.

"I raised this issue at a recent meeting with Hilary Benn and I delighted that it is now on the agenda.

"We will continue engagement with the UK Government to press the Commission to reduce the burden of implementation on Scottish Farmers.”

The meeting in Luxembourg will also see a mass protest from European farming unions, calling for support for the beleaguered dairy industry and lobbying Ministers on the issue of EID.

The protesters – which will include representatives from the UK faming unions – will drive tractors through the centre of Luxembourg, bringing traffic to a halt before holding a press conference in the courtyard of the Council building as Ministers head to their meeting.