Susan O'Keeffe (Labour)
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I apologise for not being here for the entire presentation. Ms Sheridan has referred to the fact that the regulations will not just apply to production animals but also to fish, wild animals and pets. I am confused about how we can have regulations for wild animals. Whose responsibility are wild animals? Ms Sheridan went on to say that at the core of the regulations was the principle that the primary responsibility for animal health lay with animal owners and industry. As a complete non-specialist and not having spent the time studying this issue that the delegates have spent studying it, I ask them to clarify something for me. It seems to me as if there will be a whole set of regulations that will force farmers to become more aware of health and safety in terms of produce at farm gate level. That will obviously involve additional costs. I am sure there is not a farmer in the country who would not wish to have a healthier product, but this seems heavy handed to the extent that responsibility is being laid, disproportionately, at the door of farmers.

A significant amount of training and information would need to be given to farmers to get them to a point where they would be able to keep to these requirements. While the reliance on technology might be positive, it could also lead to another set of challenges and dilemmas, as was seen with the difficulties with the mapping system. Just because one has technology does not mean one has solved the problem.