Minister To Consider EID Proposal

NORTHERN IRELAND, UK - Minister Michelle O'Neill has said that she intends to consider carefully the EU Commission’s recent proposal to introduce electronic identification (EID) for cattle.
calendar icon 6 September 2011
clock icon 1 minute read

The Commission is considering plans for voluntary or compulsory use of EID tags by herd-keepers as an official means of identification.

The Minister said: "This is an important announcement with potentially far-reaching implications for herd-keepers, markets, meat plants and Export Assembly Centres. EID offers the potential for more accurate and more efficient reading of tag numbers and it encourages greater use of electronic movement recording and improved traceability which ultimately could benefit the industry."

“In keeping with my Department’s commitment to better regulation, there is also great potential in these proposals to simplify the existing requirements for the industry by reducing some of the administrative work which is currently required.”

The Minister added: "I will study the Commission’s proposals carefully, and while I recognise the significant benefits of cattle EID, I want to work in partnership with industry stakeholders to decide how the proposals should be taken forward in the north."

"The Commission's draft legislation will now be considered by the European Parliament and the Council. My officials are already engaging with their counterparts in Britain and the south to ensure that the detailed rules for EID agreed in Brussels are appropriate for the needs of the industry here."

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