Billy Timmins
Ceist:69 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the proposals there are for the evolution of the sheep tagging system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9262/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 24 March 2004
Ceisteanna (69)
Freagraí scríofa
In the wake of the FMD crisis of 2001, I introduced a comprehensive individual sheep identification system — the national sheep identification system, or NSIS — which provides full individual identification and traceability of sheep from farm of origin to carcase and is designed to be multifunctional, facilitating aspects such as flock management, consumer assurance and disease monitoring and control. In the latter regard, the FMD crisis underscored the potential damage to which our economy and the agriculture sector are exposed in the event of serious disease outbreaks if shortcomings in animal identification and traceability are 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 consistently that I am always willing to enhance 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 was agreed at the December Council of Ministers. The 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 are to be double-tagged and identified individually, but all recording would be on a flock basis.
The regime agreed by the December Council affords member states which already have systems in place offering a higher level of traceability than would be the case under the interim period system the option of retaining their own systems until the advent of electronic identification a few years from now.
I support the broad principle which underlies the agreed system. I have always been in favour of making use of new and efficient technologies to achieve that end, subject of course to practicalities and cost-effectiveness, and I am very anxious that Ireland and other member states be able 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 regarding both identification and traceability which is strategically appropriate to this country.
The package agreed by the December Council envisages the retention of systems such as NSIS, albeit with some minor adjustments, over the period leading up to EU-wide introduction of individual electronic identification. I have no plans to dismantle NSIS and roll back the progress made in the area since 2001 only to see Irish sheep farmers, marts, meat processors, etc., being asked a few years from now once again to reinstate and accommodate individual identification and traceability. However, as I have stated, I am willing to examine and address aspects relating to the operation of NSIS in so far as those can be addressed within the EU system now agreed.
In conclusion, I might add that, in furtherance of an all-island animal health strategy within the context of the North-South Ministerial Council and arrangements established under the Good Friday Agreement, my Department has been working closely with its counterpart in Belfast to promote progress towards equivalence between sheep identification and tracing systems North and South. That would be an important development from many perspectives, not least that of facilitating sheep movements throughout the island for breeding, fattening or slaughter. I am satisfied that progress is being made in working towards that objective, and in that regard I have noted with positive interest a consultation paper on an enhanced system of sheep identification and tracing in Northern Ireland which was recently circulated.