Brussels, 17/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 14 July, EU member states agreed to water down the rules requiring farmers to put in place an electronic tagging system of sheep and goats by 1 January 2010. France, Spain and Italy unsuccessfully opposed the proposed exemptions.
The Commission won the support of the majority on the Standing Committee on the food Chain and Animal Health for its proposal to amend the 2003 regulation on electronic tagging of sheep and goats. These measures are designed to “facilitate further the introduction” of electronic identification to aid traceability, the Commission says. They come in response mainly at the request from the United Kingdom and Ireland to restrict checking the electronic data to the “critical points” on the food chain, for example, in abattoirs and points of sale, rather than in all farms. A simplified procedure for re-tagging animals if the electronic chip is lost will be put in place.
In all, the amendments will halve traceability costs for farmers, the Commission says. Initially the cost of electronic identification in Europe was forecast to be in the range of €0.7- €4 per head, depending on the country. Exemption from electronic identification of sheep and goats aged less than 12 months will be extended until 31 December 2011 for movement from the farm to the abattoir in trade between European countries and also with third countries. (L.C./transl.rt)