Ceist:
167 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his position on the sheep tagging proposals put forward by his Department involving individual tag numbers. [6488/98]
Written Answers - Sheep Tagging.
Proposals for the introduction of tagging of sheep involving individual tag numbers are currently being considered by my Department. While the final decision has yet to be made, individual identification would provide superior traceability and animal heatlh controls than a system of flock tagging. Consultations with the relevant farming and other organisations are continuing on the matter.
It is also expected that the EU Commission will be making proposals to the Council of Ministers on sheep tagging in the near future.