Lyons calls for EID action plan to ease fears

Lib Dem MEP George Lyon yesterday called for an action plan from the Scottish Government to resolve the difficulties farmers are experiencing in complying with EU rules on the electronic identification (EID) of sheep.

He was speaking following a meeting at Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, where he and speakers from NFUS and the National Sheep Association heard a catalogue of complaints about the threat of draconian penalties for failing to comply with ear tagging rules which farmers say are impossible to meet.

Cabinet secretary Richard Lochhead has claimed to have secured concessions from Brussels but failed to spell out exactly what these concessions are. He has called a meeting of industry stakeholders next Wednesday.

“I hope the meeting comes up with an action plan that responds to the deep seated concerns and fears raised by sheep farmers across the country,” said Lyon. “There is widespread confusion about how the new rules work and concerns over the tough approach being taken by government inspectors. Some farmers are threatening to walk away from sheep production because of the threat of punitive fines for failing to comply with cross compliance rules.”

The situation was “deeply worrying”, he said, as the industry was only at the first stage of EID implementation.