Martin Ferris
Ceist:117 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on the simplified system of sheep identification as proposed by the European Parliament in its opinion presented on 19 November 2003. [31508/03]
Written Answers. - Animal Identification Scheme.
I have placed a very high priority on improving Ireland's animal identification and traceability systems and I am determined to ensure that Ireland operates to the highest standards of disease monitoring and control and remains at the forefront in terms of consumer assurance and food safety. In the wake of the FMD crisis of 2001, and against a backdrop of earlier unsuccessful efforts in this regard, I introduced a comprehensive individual sheep identification system – the national sheep identification system, NSIS, which provides full individual identification and traceability of sheep from farm of origin to carcass and which is designed to be multi-functional, facilitating aspects such as flock management, consumer assurance and disease monitoring and control
The FMD crisis underscored the potential damage to which our economy and the agriculture sector is exposed in the event of serious disease outbreaks if shortcomings in animal identification and traceability were not addressed. Based on monitoring of NSIS and feedback to my Department from various quarters since 2001, I am satisfied that all elements of NSIS are now firmly bedded in across the sheep sector and working well. I have, however, made it clear that I am always willing to enhance and improve NSIS and to address any operational difficulties which might arise, while maintaining its key components.
A new harmonised system of identification for the whole of the European Union has today been agreed at the Council of Ministers. This system provides that there will be electronic individual identification of sheep from January 2008, together with a central movement database recording movements on a batch basis. The implementation date is subject to review following a Commission report in 2006. For the interim period all sheep will be double tagged and identified individually, but all recording will be on a flock basis, in line with the vote of the European Parliament.
The agreed system affords member states which already have systems in place offering a higher level of traceability than would be the case during the interim period the option of retaining their own systems until the advent of electronic identification in a few years from now.
I support the broad principle which underlies the agreed system. It is necessary to have in place a robust, harmonised system of sheep identification backed up with good record-keeping allowing full traceability of animal movements at all times. I have always been in favour of making use of new and efficient technologies to achieve this end, subject to practicalities and cost-effectiveness, and I am anxious that Ireland and other member states are in a position to move at the earliest possible date to an electronic system. In the interim, however, the system now in place and operating throughout the Irish sheep sector will continue to afford Ireland the level of protection and assurance in relation to both identification and traceability which I believe is strategically appropriate to this country.
I have no plans, therefore, to dismantle NSIS and roll back the progress which has been made in this area since 2001, only to see Irish sheep farmers, marts, meat processors, etc. being asked a few years from now to once again re-instate and accommodate individual identification and traceability by the 2008 target date for the introduction of electronic systems. As I have earlier stated, I am willing to examine and address aspects relating to the operation of NSIS in so far as these be addressed within the EU system that is put in place.