We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.Scots call for central database to cope with EID
SCOTTISH farmers have called for a central database to be set up to record sheep movements once controversial rules on electronic identification (EID) come into force.
As the Scottish Government launched its consultation on EID, NFU Scotland said a database, funded and maintained by Government, should be at the core of the Scottish system.
The calls follow a series of meetings held by NFUS and NSA Scotland around the country where farmers raised concerns over movement records under the EID system.
NFU Scotland vice-president, Nigel Miller said: “While no-one, including the Scottish Government, believes that the European requirements for electronic tagging and movement reporting are necessary, the reality is that discussions on implementation must take place at the same time as we push for further concessions and flexibility.
“Concessions already agreed, including the ability to use critical control points such as markets and abattoirs to report movements electronically, will help strip out some of the costs.
“Our current system for reporting sheep movements is based on the Scottish Animal Movement Unit (SAMU) and upgrading this to a central database that meets the European requirements on traceability could be an important step to reducing the possible burden of compliance on farmers and the rest of industry.”
NFUS is set to meet with rural affairs Secretary, Richard Lochhead on Thursday (September 10) to discuss the consultation, and a database is likely to be high on the agenda for the discussions.
The proposal has received support from MSPs who claim the Government must do all it can to ensure the transition towards EID is as smooth and painless for farmers as possible.
Liberal Democrat rural affairs spokesman Liam McArthur said: “It is clear from meetings held across the country in the last fortnight that a great deal of anger and frustration persists about the electronic tagging of sheep in Scotland.
“The SNP Government, however, appears to be pressing ahead with implementing these proposals, having given up on securing further concessions.
“If this is the case, it is vital that Ministers engage quickly and constructively with the industry regarding the database requirements.”
Readers' comments (1)
P.A.G.Lloyd | 9 September 2009 9:31 am
EID in sheep to be practical would need to capable of intergrating into microsoft office software,esp,access.
I personaly am not going to spend hundreds of pounds on specialized software for a small flock of sheep.
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