Sheep EID looks certain as talks fail

It now looks certain that electronic identification (EID) of sheep will be introduced across Europe in January after EU farming ministers failed to vote for a compromise.

Calls from Hungary to make EID voluntary won support from the UK, Ireland, German, Greece and eastern bloc countries.

But others including France, Portugal, The Netherlands and Spain voted against Hungary’s agenda item.

Androulla Vassiliou, EU health commissioner, said electronic tagging of sheep and goats was a “crucial tool” in fighting disease outbreaks and the plan, due to come into force in January 2010, should remain compulsory.

Voluntary EID would mean “voluntary traceability”, she said, while an “uneven playing field” would be created because some countries had already begun implementing the system.

Farming organisations which have lobbied against EID are now pinning their hopes on the summing up by Commissioner Vassiliou, who conceded she would look at what flexibility could be granted in implementing the tagging scheme.

The next stage in that debate could take place at the next meeting of SCOFCAH, Europe’s veterinary experts, which is due on 2 April.

NFU Scotland president Jim McLaren, who was in Brussels for the debate, said he believed Commissioner Vassiliou’s comments had left a door open for further dialogue.

He added: “We look forward to working with the UK officials attending SCOFCAH next month to find a workable solution acceptable to the EU, UK governments and most importantly, Scottish sheep farmers.”