asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will call on ERAD to amend its policy on the way it deals with cattle that arrive in factories without ear tags.
Written Answers. - ERAD Policy.
110.
I am assured by the Director of ERAD that the procedures introduced by ERAD in March 1989 concerning cattle which arrive at meat factories without ear-tags are essential to meet fully the requirements of animal health legislation. Since the initiation of the revised procedures the number of animals being presented at meat plants without ear-tags has been reduced to very low levels. Nevertheless as these procedures may cause certain difficulties a new more robust ear-tag will be introduced by ERAD in 1990 and options such as double-tagging, electronic tagging and `on-the-spot' fines are currently being examined.