Fight against compulsory electronic identification continues
19 February 2009
Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister has said the fight against the introduction of compulsory electronic identification for sheep is continuing in Brussels. His comments came as MEP’s opposed to EU proposals to introduce compulsory E-ID and individual movement recording from January 2010, have submitted a written declaration to the Commission highlighting their concerns.
The Ulster MEP said,
“Sheep farming is of particular importance in Northern Ireland, not only to the agri-food industry, but in the added environmental and social contribution which this sector provides. The sheep sector is already in very serious decline across Europe, with producer incomes characteristically low. Should electronic identification become mandatory from 2010 onwards, this already hard-pressed sector will struggle to cope with substantially increased costs.”
“I and other signatories of this written declaration want to see the Commission provide practical assistance to the sheep sector, not further bureaucracy which will only serve to add additional costs, without any obvious benefits. Sadly, imports from outside of the EU will not have to adhere to such costly controls, which will only serve to displace EU product –such is the short-sightedness of these proposals.”
ENDS
