Written answers

Tuesday, 2 March 2010

Department of Agriculture and Food

EU Directives

12:00 pm

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 475: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding the compulsory electronic identification of sheep; if the single farm payment of farmers who do not comply with this directive will be affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10005/10]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The introduction of EID for sheep was agreed at EU level in late 2003. At that time, it was agreed to defer the implementation date until January 2008. The Council of Agriculture Ministers revisited this issue in December 2007 when it was agreed that the deadline for the compulsory introduction of EID should be set for 31 December 2009, six years after the original decision was taken.

The prevailing view at EU level is that Member States should now proceed with implementation and other Member States have proceeded with implementation of EID on a mandatory basis. I, therefore, have no discretion as regards the date of implementation for electronic identification (EID) and there can be no question of deferring its introduction for a further period. In these circumstances, we now must proceed with the introduction of EID.

My Department has circulated a technical document outlining the proposed changes to the National Sheep Identification System (NSIS II) to farm organisations and other stakeholders for comments. This is part of a consultative process, which has been ongoing for some time. The stakeholders have been asked to examine this document carefully and engage with my officials so that whatever revisions are made to the NSIS best suit Irish conditions and minimise the burden on farmers within the parameters of the new legislation.

If farmers do not comply with EU rules on electronic identification of sheep and with NSIS rules they will renders themselves liable to appropriate penalties. Farmers who are found to be non-compliant with the sheep identification requirements will, under the cross compliance obligations, also be liable to a reduction in their single payment, disadvantaged area and REPS payment depending on the seriousness of the non-compliance.

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