Cash Aids Slaughterhouse Monitoring

Fresh funding for markets, abattoirs, export assembly centres, and slaughter collection centres has been announced to help them read sheep tags and complete movement documentation on behalf of keepers.

Announcing the sheep EID funding, the Minister Michelle Gildernew said: "I have pledged all along to do my best to secure a measure of financial assistance to help the industry with the transition to Sheep EID, and can confirm today that £250,000 will be made available from DARD.

"We all recognise that the introduction of sheep EID is necessary under EU Law and I want to do my best to ensure that the move to the new system is as smooth as possible.

"If markets, abattoirs, and others, perform the function of reading tags, and printing of movement schedules, this will greatly help keepers as they will not have to buy or use EID readers for movements to these premises."

The Minister continued: "For movements to approved premises the keeper will not need to list the tag numbers on the movement document. The keeper will only need to complete the general information, such as, their flock number, the number of animals moved and the registration number of the transporter.

"The keeper will be given a list of tag numbers after the sheep arrive, which must be kept with the movement document," she explained.

Any market, abattoir or other premises, that wishes to read tags on behalf of keepers must be approved by DARD and comply with certain conditions of operation. They will be known as a 'Central Point of Recording' or CPR.

The Minister concluded: "The Department will specify conditions in the approval of a Central Point of Recording to ensure that traceability is maintained.

"Markets, abattoirs, export assembly centres, and slaughter collection centres will shortly be issued with an application form to enable them to apply to DARD for approval and funding. The funding will be available over the next couple of months.

"Finally, I want to reassure flock-keepers here that I am doing everything in my power to secure funding to enable them to purchase EID tags in the future.

"I have asked my officials to progress this as a matter of urgency."

The new system, which requires that individual tag numbers of sheep and goats be recorded, is compulsory under EU legislation to ensure effective traceability.

The system was to be in place from 31 December last year with the main elements of the new rules phased being phased in.

The introduction of sheep EID is an EU obligation under Council Regulation 21/2004 and requires the individual identity of sheep and goats born after 31 December 2009 to be recorded when they are moved. In order to allow this to be achieved for sheep, the Regulation requires them to be identified with an EID device and a conventional tag.

The objective is to make it easier to trace individual animals, especially in a serious disease outbreak situation, such as Foot and Mouth Disease.

(BMCC)





(BMcC/GK)