Written answers

Tuesday, 24 May 2011

Department of Agriculture, Marine and Food

Animal Identification Scheme

6:00 pm

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 321: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his views that proposed new electronic tags for sheep will work effectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12480/11]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The introduction of electronic identification (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 Agriculture Council 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, 6 years after the original decision was taken.

Accordingly, Ireland has in common with other EU Member States and in line with EU law, introduced electronic identification of sheep last year. However in Ireland's case given that our existing system up until now has provided adequate assurances in terms of animal identification and traceability, it was decided to minimise the impact on farmers and avail of the EU derogation which allowed us to confine mandatory electronic tagging to breeding sheep and live sheep being exported. The effect of this is that the vast majority of Irish lamb that go directly to slaughter are unaffected by EID. However, I can inform the Deputy that some 650,000 EID tag sets have been purchased to date.

I fully appreciate that there will be teething problems in the move to the new system but nevertheless we have proceeded with the introduction of EID since it is the law in the European Union.

My Department has conducted extensive consultation with the farm organisations and sought to minimise the change to the existing National Sheep Identification System (NSIS) and ensure that the new arrangements best suit Irish conditions and minimise the burden on farmers within the parameters of the new legislation.

My officials will continue to liaise with the various stakeholders in the ongoing implementation of EID in sheep.

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