Vol. 426 No. 7
191 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will give details of the new proposals for the identification schemes for livestock, animal passports and farm registration systems which are likely to be implemented.
Council Directive 92/102/EEC of 27 November 1992 sets down minimum animal identification and registration requirements. In brief, these include that: all member states must maintain a register of all holdings containing cattle, sheep, goats and pigs; farmers must maintain records of animals on their holdings and movements on and off their farms; animals must be identified in such a manner that it is possible to trace back to their farm of origin.
The implementation dates for the Directive are 1 October 1993 (bovines), 1 January 1994 (pigs) and 1 January 1995 (sheep and goats).
My Department is in the process of making the necessary arrangements to implement the Directive.
