WIREDGOV

New regulations governing the electronic tagging of sheep are due to come into force from 31 December 2009.

While the UK’s campaign to make sheep tagging voluntary was ultimately unsuccessful, Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones has taken every opportunity to minimise the impact of sheep tagging regulations on Welsh farmers and has secured a number of key concessions from the full regulations.

This means that Welsh lambs under 12 months old that are intended for slaughter in the UK will be allowed to be tagged with a single non electronic identifier. This differs from the full EID which requires one visual and one electronic identifier and carries an individual number which must be recorded in flock records and from 2011 on movement documents.

Central point recording centres will also be permitted to operate in Wales which will allow identities of sheep to be provided to keepers after the sheep have been moved.

Replacement rules for lost or illegible identifiers have been simplified and there will only be a requirement on the central database to hold batch movement data. This means that farmers will only be required to maintain basic paper records on farm, backed up by central batch data, reported via Local Authorities, in the usual way.

Speaking about the new regulations, the Rural Affairs Minister said:

“The concessions we have secured from Europe should make it much easier for Welsh farmers to implement the EU regulations around sheep tagging.

“As of today sheep farmers will need to consider which slaughter tags they use to identify their 2010 lambs. Auctions and abattoirs will be able to advise on this but farmers will need to be aware that sheep born from 2010 on will need to identified with a full EID, if they are kept for more than 12 months.

“My officials will be issuing guidance and a revised flock record to all registered sheep and goat farmers in early January to help them through the new process.

“I would also urge farmers to seek advice from my officials on this issue as they will be able to provide detailed information on all aspects of the Regulation.”  

Speaking about whether it was necessary for farmers to invest in electronic tagging equipment at this stage, the Minister said:

"Farmers do not have to buy an EID reader. We have worked hard to make paper record keeping as simple as possible under the new system to allow time for the technology to bed in.”

Welsh Assembly Government officials will be advising farmers on this issue at a number of road shows across Wales during January.

EID road shows are due to be held at following dates and locations from 7.30pm:  

11/01/2010 - Black Lion Lampeter

12/01/2010 - Emlyn Arms NC Emlyn and Ye Olde Anchor Inn, Ruthin

13/01/2010 - Alice Springs Golf Club, Usk and Caernarfon RFC

14/01/2010 - The Raven Inn, Welshpool and Tabernacle, Machynlleth

Farmers can contact the central Welsh Assembly Government helpline on 01267 245022 or email: sheepEID@wales.gsi.gov.uk for further advice.

Alternatively farmers can contact their Local Authority, Animal Health Divisional Office or the local Welsh Assembly Government Divisional offices.