Scots report urges electronic tagging

28 January 2000



Scots report urges electronic tagging

By Shelley Wright

IMMEDIATE steps should be taken to introduce electronic tagging for cattle in Scotland, claims a new report by the Scottish Red Tape Review Panel.

The panel, chaired by Scottish NFU vice-president Peter Chapman, was created by Scottish farm minister Ross Finnie last October.

Its report concluded that moving to electronic identification of the national herd would benefit both farmers and the government.

Electronic tagging would improve record-keeping, improve traceability, and boost the potential to cut livestock inspections.

Mr Finnie said he supported the idea but added: “There are serious cost implications here and, at the moment, I dont have that money.”