UFU To Consider New Traceability Proposals
UK - The Ulster Farmers’ Union says it will urgently and carefully consider new proposals for the identification, registration and movement of cattle, put forward this week by Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Michelle Gildernew.
27 July 2007
2 minute read
UFU President Kenneth Sharkey, who attended a meeting with the Minister, said the industry now had to consider how to achieve the most effective way of enhancing further our traceability system using new technologies.
Mr Sharkey said; “We are faced with the opportunity to introduce electronic identification and movement notification and our livestock committees have already been considering these options. These systems could significantly reduce bureaucracy in our industry and help us with problems such as DARD’s desire to remove staff from livestock markets and meat plants. We will discuss this further with our members and I have already highlighted to the Minister that switching to electronic ID for existing animals would have to be supported financially, because this is a cost that was not anticipated by farmers”.
The Minister also proposed new arrangements for recording movements to markets and meat plants as DARD proposes the removal of its staff from those activities. Kenneth Sharkey said; “DARD staff play a valuable role in our marts and meat plants, and we have told the Minister that we do not want to see DARD staff removed until new arrangements could be put in place. It is very important that all these new developments happen in the right sequence”.
The UFU also raised farmers views that rules and bureaucracy relating to cattle exports to Scotland and the Continent need to be amended to assist freer trade.
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