Written question asked by Baroness Quin (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Rooker (Labour) on Monday, 29 September 2008.

Agriculture: Sheep

Question: What discussions have been held recently within the European Union about individual electronic identification of sheep.

Answer: The European Parliament discussed electronic identification of sheep on 19 June as part of its wider discussions on the sheep industry. Discussions were also held on 30 June in the Commission’s Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH). The discussions held on 30 June were those that secured changes to the annexes of EC regulation 21/2004 which considerably reduce the movement-recording burdens for industry. The regulation now provides for a phased approach to the introduction of individual recording as follows: no animals to have to be individually recorded on a movement document until 1 January 2011; no animals born before 31 December 2009 have to be individually recorded on a movement document until 31 December 2011; and no animal born before 31 December 2009 and moving to slaughter (directly or via a market) have to be individually recorded on a movement document at all.

Secondary information