Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

145. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a recent letter from his Department to sheep farmers stated that EID is compulsory for farmers and optional for factories; and if his attention has been drawn to the views expressed by an organisation in an article (details supplied). [41660/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The letter referred to by the Deputy recently issued to all registered sheep keepers, informing them of the new rules in relation to the identification and movement of sheep that I announced in May 2018, and on which I provided additional detail in August.

The changes to the National Sheep Identification System (NSIS) address inadequacies in the current system, which is widely acknowledged to be very complicated and overly-dependent on the manual transcription of the individual identification number of each sheep moved, through all stages of production. The new system will significantly reduce the record-keeping requirements of keepers and will result in a simpler, more effective and robust sheep traceability system.

Under the new rules, with effect from 1 June 2019, all sheep moving from a holding must be  identified electronically. Generally, all sheep must be identified with a full EID set of tags comprising of one electronic tag in the animal's right ear and a corresponding conventional tag, bearing the same unique animal identification number, in the left ear. Identification with an electronic bolus set will also be permitted. An exception is made for lambs moving directly to slaughter from the holding of birth while aged under 12 months of age. Such lambs must be identified with a minimum of one electronic tag in the right ear although identification with a full set of EID tags/ an electronic bolus set is also permitted.

The electronic identification of all sheep provides for the establishment of Central Points of recording (CPRs), approved by my Department, to record the individual identification number of each sheep moved to such a destination.

The approval of CPRs is provided for at Paragraph C2 of the Annex to Council Regulation 21/2004 by way of a derogation from the requirement for a keeper of the holding of departure to record the individual numbers of all sheep moved. The Regulation provides that Member States may authorise the recording of the individual tag numbers of sheep moved within the State at the point of destination, on behalf of the presenting keeper, by holdings approved by the competent authority for this purpose.

With effect from 1 June 2019, approved CPRs will be required to scan the electronic tags of all sheep presented at that location and provide the presenting keeper with a printed list of all sheep presented. This will significantly reduce the administrative burden currently placed on farmers who are required now to manually list these numbers on the dispatch documents accompanying sheep on movement. Under the new system, farmers will simply be required to record the total number of sheep moved to an approved CPR.

The CPR will provide a printed list of presented tag numbers (LPT) to the keeper within a maximum of 48 hours (but often on the same day). Having checked it for accuracy, the keeper will then associate the LPT with the relevant dispatch document and retain both documents together to complete his/her record keeping requirements.      

I am acutely aware that the enhancement of the sheep traceability system through the extension of electronic identification to all sheep represents an additional tagging cost to keepers.

In this regard, I have introduced a once-off  EID tag subsidy scheme, providing keepers with a once-off payment of up to a maximum of €100 based on the number of electronic tags purchased in their first completed order for electronic tags between 1 October 2018 and 30 September 2019.

I am similarly aware that the  operation of marts and slaughter plants as CPRs is key to the reduction in the current administrative burden placed on farmers. On that basis, there has been consultation with both marts and slaughter plants on enabling them to become CPRs. 

I have also announced a subvention to marts of 40% of the verified development cost (subject to a maximum of €10,000) of the infrastructure necessary to enable them generate the printout of tag numbers for farmers in respect of sheep supplied.

I will be closely monitoring progress in the application and approval processes for marts and slaughter plants to operate as CPRs in the coming months, in order to maximise the benefits for the farming community.