"New Report adds weight to fight against EID"- Farron

5.54.16pm GMT Tue 9th Sep 2008

Local MP Tim Farron has welcomed a report on the plight of rural hill farmers and calls on the EU Commission to rethink their policy before it's too late.

Tim Farron has called on the European Commission to end the mandatory tagging of all sheep because it is costly, ineffective and not needed. A report from the Country Land and Business Association has shown that the European Union needs to re-think its policy on electronic tagging.

The system of EID (Electronic Identification) could cost the average farmer up to £2,350, when the average yearly income for hard working hill farmers is only £9,207 and the financial input of a farming family over a year is according to research is about £20,000.

While a sheep on average sells for a maximum of £55, tagging can cost £1.55 per sheep, so plus feed, labour and other expenses, the potential introduction of tagging may make it not only more unprofitable it may force further people off the land.

After reading the report Tim commented "This report is further evidence that the EU has made a major error in making this compulsory. There are practical concerns over this project for example how can you electronically check a sheep has a tag when is behind a crag? Farmers are enduring more and more regulation, stifling their ability to care for land and produce food. Electronic Tagging is costly, ineffective and has the potential to ruin our rural economy forcing hard working hill farmers off the land."