Carmichael Backs Calls for EID Amnesty
February 19, 2010 3:37 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats
Isles MP Alistair Carmichael is backing calls from Scottish farmers' groups for a moratorium on penalties for breaches of the EU sheep identification rules that came into force at the start of 2010.
Before the new legislation was introduced, campaigners had criticized EU's plans as costly and unworkable. Doubts have also been expressed over the ability of the new system of electronic identity (EID) tags to achieve necessary improvements in health and biosecurity standards.
Mr Carmichael has worked closely with representatives of the Scottish farming industry on this issue in the past, and last year raised the concerns of local farmers directly with EU agricultural officials during meetings in Brussels.
Commenting, Mr Carmichael said:
'Before these rules came into force, farmers made it clear that the logistical complexity of the new arrangements would make it difficult for them to meet the high cross-compliance standards demanded by officials in Brussels.
'It is only right that while problems with implementation are being ironed out, our farmers should not be penalised for unintended breaches of the new EID rules.
'Despite widespread misgivings over this legislation, the Scottish sheep farming industry has bent over backwards to comply with the new rules. Officials need to recognise these efforts and must be flexible in their application of the law until a full review of these changes is complete.'
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