Monday, 5th October 2009
Hopes dashed for electronic sheep tag concessions
The controversial plans regarding sheep tagging remains a great concern for so many local farmers. With this in mind, I secured a meeting in Strasbourg with Consumer Affairs Commissioner Androula Vassiliou and three members of her Cabinet. Five of Scotland's 6 MEPs attended the meeting. We wanted to win final concessions to the controversial plan to fit all sheep with electronic tags.
The Agriculture Council agreed in December 2007 that mandatory electronic identification (EID) should be introduced across the EU for sheep and goats. A later concession to the UK enabled EID readers to be fitted mainly at key movement points. Thus, many sheep farmers will be able to avoid the cost of purchasing the expensive scanning equipment.
Sadly our meeting did nothing to change the Commission's position. Mrs. Vassiliou was unable to offer any further concessions. She was not even prepared to hold a review of EID within three years so that any major changes could be made to the Regulation.
The Commissioner and her team were equally unsympathetic when we raised the question of black losses (sheep that die and disappear on the Scottish hills). These losses occur all the time and will affect the annual count of the flock under the EID regulations. The Commissioner would give no concessions on cross-compliance thresholds or guarantees that farmers will not lose part of their single farm payments due to missing sheep.
The EU seems hell-bent on killing off Scotland’s sheep sector, and causing financial ruin to a great number of Scotland’s hill farmers. The EU clearly does not fully understand the importance of our farming communities in Scotland.
A report published by the SAC’s Rural Policy Centre earlier this year – ‘Retreat from the Hills’ - outlined the looming disaster that our hill and upland farmers are facing, showing a 23% drop in sheep numbers over the past ten years.
I agree with and support the NFU in Scotland and share their view that we need to see funding targeted at those who are clearly engaged in delivering positive social, environmental and economic benefits to our hill and upland areas.
