Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020
674. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all materials, reports, correspondence and briefings in relation to considerations to introduce mandatory electronic identification for cattle will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19194/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra675. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if available reports, briefings, reports or correspondence with regard to potential costs to farmers as a result of introducing mandatory electronic identification for cattle will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19195/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 674 and 675 together.
The Department has engaged in preliminary work on the scope for the possibility of introducing mandatory electronic identification (EID) of bovines against a background of the benefits that could accrue to stakeholders including the Department and introduction of EU Animal Health Regulation which will become operational on 21 April 2021. This is an ongoing deliberative process. The development of a plan to implement EID will require consultation with all relevant stakeholders including the farming organisations.
The use of EID tags has the potential to deliver a substantial improvement in the bovine identification system for farmers, livestock marts, slaughter plants, export assembly centres, veterinarians and the Department. The electronic scanning of bovines presented at outlets such as marts and factories will assist a move to a paperless system and enable accurate data capture facilitated by automated reporting of animal movements to the AIM system and thus improving the speed, reliability and accuracy of the traceability system. EID in bovines has the capacity also to provide a safer working environment for all stakeholders.
The cost of bovine identification tags is set by approved tag suppliers. The current additional cost to farmers of purchasing an electronic identification tag is between €1.05 - €1.11 per animal.
