My Department received tenders from nine companies in the EU for the supply of cattle indentity ear tags in 1994. The contract was awarded to Messrs R. Herberholz K G Wuppertal, Germany. All tenders received were evaluated by a Departmental ad hoc committee by reference to: 1. Competitiveness of price. 2. Ability to meet the specification laid down by my Department which included: (a) durability — a tag is as far as possible required to last the lifetime of the animal, (b) fall-out rate and tamper proofness; (c) results of independent field trials as commissioned by the tendering companies confirming the suitability of the tag for its intended use; (d) insertion of the correct indentification data on the tag; (e) registration of patent or certificate of access to use of the patent for the tag; (f) provision of practical applicators for fitting tags.
Details of expenditure and the numbers of cattle identity ear tags purchased in 1980, 1990, 1994 and 1995 are included in a table which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
The cattle identity ear tag system is central to the operation of the TB and Brucellosis disease eradication schemes and for certification of exports of livestock and livestock products worth some £2 billion annually. It is, therefore, vital that the quality of the tag used in the schemes is reliable, tamper proof and durable. In order to ensure this, the most stringent and comprehensive scrutiny is made of all tenders for the supply of the cattle identity ear tags before a contract is placed with any company.
It is expected that during the course of this year new identification systems for cattle, sheep and pigs will be introduced in line with Directive 92/102 EEC.
It is envisaged that in the case of cattle, a single supplier will be chosen by open tender procedure and that for pigs and sheep a range of tags will be approved. The arrangements under consideration in my Department envisage that farmers will themselves apply these tags. If the new cattle tagging system works well, the existing metal scheme ear tag system will be phased out.
The detailed specifications for these new tagging arrangements have not yet been finalised in my Department.
