Proposals to implement double tagging of sheep and goats after the loss of the UK's derogation earlier this year have been released for consultation this week by DEFRA.

Under the proposals all sheep or goats born after 1 January 2008 intended for breeding will need to be identified by two identical tags, while those intended for slaughter by 12 months old would only require a single tag. Also, the need to record identification numbers when sheep or goats are moved would be removed under the proposal, resulting in a simpler version of the AML1 movement form being needed.

The number of sheep or goats being moved is the only animal information farmers are required to provide other details remain the same.

NSA chief executive Peter Morris welcomes the changes and says they are broadly in line with what NSA and others in the industry have been calling for since it became apparent the derogation would be lost. "The negatives in these changes are far outweighed by the practical benefits in terms of losing the need to apply S tags when sheep move from one holding to another.

"It has been suggested this will compromise traceability, but so long as movements are properly recorded in movement documents, there is no need to use S tags when moving sheep."

Importantly, too, the UK will implement the derogation allowed in EU regulations not to double-tag animals being slaughtered before 12 months old. "This is where most farmers will see the benefit double tagging these sheep would have been an absolute waste."

But some pragmatism will need to be found when applying the rule, Mr Morris warns. "There could be a challenge with store animals which are sold for finishing, but which end up being kept for breeding. A sensible answer needs to be found to this issue."

Where animals are intended for slaughter by 12 months old, but are still alive at that age, they will need to be double-tagged by one of two methods. They can either have one new tag inserted with the new holding number and an identical individual number to the original tag, or two new tags bearing the new holding number can be be inserted.

Those animals intended for live export before slaughter will also have to be double-tagged. In this case sheep can either receive a completely identical tag to the one they have or receive two new tags.

David MacTaggart of Bonchester Bridge says double tagging isn't as bad as electronic identification may be, but he wonders what benefit it will bring. "So far as delivering traceability I can't see any improvement coming from double tagging.

"From my own point of view I will have to double-tag between 450 and 500 replacement ewe lambs every year at a cost of an additional 16p a lamb. While that may only add up to £70-80, it's another cost which has to be borne by the sector for little gain."