Wales must oppose compulsory EID until equipment secures confidence of the industry - Mick Bates AM (Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats)

Cymraeg
English

Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats <montlibdems@gmail.com>

Wales must oppose compulsory EID until equipment secures confidence of the industry - Mick Bates AM

September 29, 2009 12:00 AM

Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, Mick Bates AM, has criticised the Welsh Government for failing to protect the Welsh farming industry from the impacts of EID and states Wales must continue to oppose the regulation until EID equipment secures the confidence of the industry.

Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat Mick Bates stated:

"In Wales we have nearly nine million sheep so the impact of compulsory electronic identification of sheep will be widespread. Farm incomes are decreasing and farmers can ill afford to spend their income on EID. This technology could cost thousands of pounds and will produce no additional benefits for identifying and tracing sheep than the current system offers."

The latest Hybu Cig Cymru/WAG report showed significant reading issues on farm, at markets and at abattoir with only an 80% reading of tags at best.

Mick adds: "The reliability and accuracy of equipment used for EID falls far short of what is needed to individually record all sheep in Wales. There are many issues with compatibility, as well as problems with electrical interference at markets and abattoirs and faults in wet and cold conditions.

"Farmers can ill afford to adopt a system which is so unreliable and be penalised with reductions in payments because equipment forced upon them fails to deliver. It is crucial that Wales continues the fight against the imposition of this regulation, until assured that the equipment will work as closely as possible to 100% accuracy."

Notes:

The Welsh Government debate reads as follows:

Item 4: Debate on Sheep Electronic Identification (60 mins)

NDM4280 Carwyn Jones (Bridgend)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the Minister for Rural Affairs decision to implement the sheep EID and individual recording requirements of Council Regulation 21/2004 which establishes a European wide system for identification and registration of sheep and goats;

2. Welcomes the 3rd party reporting concessions, secured on 14 July 2009 which enables organisations such as markets and abattoirs to read the individual identities and pass the information back to keepers who have bred them; and

3. Notes the efforts of the Welsh Assembly Government and the agricultural sector to ensure the Regulations are applied with minimum disruption to the industry.

Amendment 1 - Alun Cairns (South Wales West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that sheep EID will deliver no traceability benefits over and above the current system, and will come at disproportionate cost.

Amendment 2 - Peter Black (South Wales West):

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that the Minister has rejected the Rural Development Sub Committee's recommendation 'that full implementation of EID does not occur until such time as the equipment is as close to 100% accurate as technically possible and has the confidence of the industry'.

Ends/Diwedd