Sheep-tagging slammed by Euro-MP (From Yeovil Express)

Sheep-tagging slammed by Euro-MP

6:57pm Saturday 15th December 2007

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ELECTRONICALLY tagging sheep worth just a few pounds would place an "astronomically expensive" burden on UK sheep farmers, according to Tory Euro MPs.

Conservative MEPs have tabled amendments to a report on electronic identification of sheep and goats, calling for tagging to be voluntary rather than compulsory and a cost-benefit analysis to be conducted before the system is introduced.

The legislation was expected to come into force on January 1, but the European Commission has said wider stakeholder discussion is necessary before a final date for electronic identification can be set.

The Agriculture Committee has voted in favour of delaying the introduction until the end of 2009, but Conservative MEPs argue UK farmers would still struggle with the costs involved in two years time.

Conservative MEP, Neil Parish, himself a former Somerset farmer, said: "It would be a real burden on UK sheep farmers if this legislation goes through now, even with the slight delay until 2010.

"We are simply not there yet with the technology needed to make this work.

"Cast ewes are worth only a few pounds, so how can farmers afford to tag them with microchips and purchase expensive readers? It is simply not feasible.

"The sheer number of sheep in the UK, combined with our specific topography, do not permit us to even contemplate such an astronomically costly system at this point in time."

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