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Industry in-fighting threatens to stall EID plans
FARMERS faced with complying with new rules on electronic identification (EID) in sheep could find they have little time to adjust to the regulations as in-fighting between industry stakeholders threatens to delay the plans.
Defra is currently in discussions with the industry over a proposed slaughter tag and warned if stakeholders fail to reach a consensus on the issue, it could be months before a final decision is made.
The decision must be made before the final legislation is drawn up and if a consensus is not reached among the industry, Ministers will be forced to make the decision with or without industry agreement.
EID project manager Terry Gurnhill said it was in the best interests of farmers if the legislation is drawn up as early as possible to allow farmers to prepare.
However, she warned the in-fighting could add delays and leave farmers very little time to get their heads around the regulations before they come into force on January 1 next year.
She said: “What we want to do is, within the framework of the EU directive, be as flexible as we can and make this as painless as we can for the industry.
“The industry finds it hard to agree amongst itself and there are different views coming from each sector.”
Stakeholders will next meet with Defra policy officials on September 16 and if an agreement is not reached, the next step would be for the proposals and various arguments to be put before Ministers.
What is the row about?
DEFRA has proposed three options for the slaughter derogation, which exempts sheep under 12 months old from having to be tagged electronically if they are moving direct to slaughter:
- Take the derogation in full.
- Legislate for a voluntary electronic slaughter tag.
- Require all sheep, regardless of age to be tagged electronically.
The Livestock Auctioneers Association (LAA) argues that all farmers should use an electronic tag, warning market prices could drop as those not tagged electronically could not be bought for further finishing or be upgraded to breeding sheep.
Its argument is backed by independent analysis from Eblex which showed just over 30 per cent of prime lamb sales do not go direct to slaughter and, without an electronic tag, these sheep are likely to be discounted at sales.
The NFU however argues it should be up to farmers to decide which tag – manual flock tag or electronic identifier – to use.
It claims the decision should be left to market drivers, with farmers deciding which tags to use based on how the prices are being affected and what price they are looking to get at the sale.
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Readers' comments (1)
Simon Allam | 24 August 2009 9:51 am
I strongly suport the LAA and EBLEX view that we should be able to electronicaly sort sheep (given that we have to accept that EID is here) unless we are able to sell not just to finishers but to slaughterers who wish to slaughter later in the week and mix batches lambs not capable of electronic identification will have a reduced price bid value remenber FMD when there was no competition!!!!
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