Update From Struan Stevenson MEP

The Standing Committee for Food Chain and Animal Health announced it has agreed a number of concessions to the proposed electronic sheep tagging. These concessions include the electronic readings to take place at markets and slaughter houses instead of at each farm, saving farmers a considerable amount of money.

The concessions are a step in the right direction but clearly do not go far enough. The scheme remains impractical and drives a large number off the hill and upland areas of Scotland. The scheme should be voluntary or abandoned altogether.

Those in favour of electronic sheep tagging (EID) argue that EID is necessary in order to protect against the spread of diseases such as foot and mouth, despite the fact the current batch system of identification has been proved to be a success.

It is not too late to abandon the scheme before a large part of the sheep sector is destroyed.

Struan Stevenson

Scottish Conservative MEP

The European Parliament

Rue Wiertz

B-1047

Brussels