Carmichael maintains pressure over proposed sheep tagging proposals

4.50.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 2nd Jul 2009

Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael today called on the Secretary of State for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Rt. Hon Hilary Benn MP to secure a meeting between the NFUS and Commissioner Vassiliou regarding the ongoing discussions over the EU’s planned electronic sheep tagging proposals.

At an EU council meeting of agricultural ministers in Luxembourg on 22 June, changes to the EU regulations on sheep identification and movement recording, due to come into force from the end of this year, were raised under Any Other Business by the UK Government. Despite support from Member States including Ireland, Germany, Hungary and Slovakia, the UK amendment was not accepted by the lead Commissioner, Androulla Vassiliou.Alistair Carmichael MP: Orkney & Shetland

Speaking during DEFRA questions in the House of Commons Chamber, Mr Carmichael said;

“What steps is the Secretary of State taking to stop or at least mitigate the worst effects of the introduction of electronic sheep tagging, which will have a disastrous effect on the farmers and crofters in my constituency? NFU Scotland is seeking a face-to-face meeting with Commissioner Vassiliou. Will the Secretary of State use his office to get NFU Scotland that meeting, so that it can put its concerns straight at the heart of matter?”

Replying, Secretary of State for DEFRA, Hilary Benn MP said;

“As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, we have worked very hard to express the concerns of many people in the UK about the cost of electronic identification of sheep. He will also be aware of the changes that we have been able to get to the implementation of the directive under the slaughter derogation, and of the fact that the Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health is looking at the idea of third-party recording, which would lift some of the burden that would otherwise fall on sheep farmers. I recently wrote to all my fellow Agriculture Ministers urging further support, and my hon. Friend the Minister of State raised the issue with the Commissioner at the recent meeting of the Agriculture Council.”

Commenting after his exchange in the Commons, Mr Carmichael said;

"I was very disappointed that the Minister did not answer directly the question that I asked about him supporting the NFUS and other industry bodies in getting a meeting with the appropriate Commissioner. I shall however pursue this with him in correspondence as it seems to me that this is the very least that the lead Commissioner should be prepared to do.”

Notes:

EU regulation 21/2004 states that electronic identification of sheep will be required from 1 January 2010. Movements of all sheep from 1 January 2011 will have to be accompanied by a movement document recording the individual identities of every sheep moved and the originating holding and destination. There will be limited derogation for some classes and ages of sheep.

The proposals are deeply unpopular with Scottish farmers. A survey, carried out by NFUS during January and February 2009, revealed that 73 per cent of Scottish producers said that they would reduce their flock if EID and individual recording were introduced. Of the Scottish flock keepers who indicated they would reduce their flock, one third said they might get rid of all their sheep.