EU backs UK over sheep EID burden
Farmers from across Europe have backed UK and Irish farming unions in their bid to persuade the European Commission to review the burdensome sheep EID regulations, after concerns were voiced to European farming union Copa, in Brussels, on 29th May.
They stated that the current EID regulation is causing multiple problems for farmers - including tag retention, unjust penalisation and related welfare issues for sheep - but is "adding nothing to traceability and disease control."
French, German, Spanish and Swedish farming unions are now among the vast majority of members states that fully support the UK-Irish position, and sheep industry representatives were therefore able to present a united front to European Commission officials.
Sian Davies, a spokeswoman for the UK, said: “We have told the European Commission about our problems with the sheep EID regulation repeatedly but they will not listen to us. We now feel strengthened to return to the Commission to ask for a review of the regulation with the backing of more farming unions."
