The NFU has called on the European Commission to find real solutions to the on-going problems with Europe’s EID regulation.
The man responsible for the regulation, Health and Consumer Affairs Commissioner John Dalli, met with a group of MEPs yesterday but failed to offer any concrete moves to revise its zero tolerance stance or to support farmers’ calls to delay the individual sheep recording in historic flocks.
Sian Davies from the NFU's Brussels office applauded the UK MEPs for continuing to raise the issue with the key decision makers, but she added it was high time the Commission listened.
“We are frustrated that the Commissioner will not take concrete steps to help our sheep farmers. The current regulation requires 100% accurate individual movement recording and flock registers but it is unlikely that any UK sheep farmer will be able to comply fully with the regulation without some level of tolerance. All sheep farmers therefore face the real threat of cross compliance penalties at inspection. Commissioner Dalli told the MEPs that he understands the problem, but we need action not words.”
Ms Davies was also disappointed by the Commissioner’s lack of help on the identification of historic flocks.
“The UK farming unions fully support Defra's proposal to defer the need for individual sheep movement recording from 1st January 2012 to 1st January 2016 which would reduce financial and bureaucratic burdens on our sheep farmers as well as improve animal welfare. Again the Commissioner was ‘sympathetic’ to the MEPs but he has failed to take action. We will now lobby other European farming organisations to convince their Agriculture Ministries to support Defra's proposals on historic flocks. The proposal will be voted on in the EU’s Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health in early December provided it receives backing from a number of member states.”
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