Wales goes it alone on sheep EID
Wales has invested in its own sheep EID reporting system to safeguard its strong lamb export market.
EIDCymru will be introduced in January 2015 and has been specifically tailored for Wales.
According to the Welsh government, the new system will enable a quicker, more effective response to a disease outbreak.
Wales’ farm minister, Alun Davies, described it as a “modern and robust” tracing system that would provide accurate, timely data.
“This information, coupled with efficient database systems, delivers the traceability that is absolutely vital for the protection of our livestock against disease outbreaks,” he said.
“Such traceability will also help strengthen the Welsh lamb brand and open-up markets overseas by providing a cast-iron guarantee that the sheep were born and bred on Welsh pastures.”
The Welsh government worked closely with the Scottish government to develop the new system, using their existing model, ScotEID, as a template.
Wales is the biggest exporter of lamb in the EU and this investment highlights the value of that market to the Welsh economy.