EXTRA FUNDING WILL NOT REDUCE BURDEN OF SHEEP-TAGGING - MEP

2.27.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 19th Jun 2008

The European Parliament voted today to reject an amendment calling for a delay to the introduction of mandatory electronic tagging of individual sheep and goats in 2010, much to the frustration of LibDem European Agriculture Spokesperson (England & Wales) Liz Lynne MEP.

UK farmers' groups, including the National Farmers' Union are staunchly against moves to introduce individual electronic tagging, saying they are unnecessary and overbearing, and will cause huge financial strain to local farmers.

Speaking today local Euro-MP Liz Lynne said:

"I regret that my colleagues in the European Parliament voted to reject calls for a delay to mandatory tagging, which would add no extra value or security to existing UK arrangements. I fully agree with the majority of farmers in my constituency, that the current batch-tagging system offers sufficient security.

"An amendment to delay the introduction of tagging would have given us extra time to look at our options and convince EU Governments of the danger posed by this measure, but unfortunately it didn't pass .The call for extra funding for farmers to help with the introduction of these measures is scant consolation and obviously will not reduce the administrative burden, which will still remain huge."

ENDS

Link to the report adopted today: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+REPORT+A6-2008-0196+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN