Last updated at 09:45, Wednesday, 01 July 2009

ENVIRONMENT Secretary Hilary Benn this week failed to win any concessions from the European Commission on controversial proposals to to impose sheep tagging regulations.

His plea was rejected at a meeting of European agricultural ministers in Luxembourg on Monday.

Mr Benn was seeking an amendment to the rules, which would have made it compulsory to tag sheep only when they left farms where they were born.

Despite gaining some support from Germany and Ireland, he was unable to sway the Commission which stuck to its guns and remained opposed to any such changes.

The National Sheep Association said it was dismayed by the reluctance of the Commission to dilute its proposal.

NSA chief executive Peter Morris said: “This is disappointing news as concessions such as the one being sought by Mr Benn would make a significant difference to the ability of sheep farmers throughout the UK to operate their businesses should these new rules be introduced next year.

“We are supporting other concessions which are still in the negotiating stage at the Commission, so pressure must continue to secure these.

Mr Morris said there was growing support for the case put forward on behalf of Britain’s sheep farmer from other countries in Europe. But he said the Commission was reluctant to budge.

“We remain undaunted in our efforts to fight this regulation. However you look at it, there is no justification for it being introduced as it will achieve nothing to help disease control.

“When there is a clear injustice such as this, then the objections can never stop, even if the regulation is foisted upon sheep farmers.”

The NFU joined the NSA in criticism of the Commission.

Its livestock board chairman Alistair Macintosh said tagging would have a devastating impact on the EU sheep industry.

“We have consistently opposed this regulation and are fully committed to working with other European organisations who share our concerns,” he said.

“We are working hard to ensure steps are taken to limit the impact of sheep EID on the sector and to increase the flexibility of its implementation.

“We’re also currently gathering the views of our members as part of a Defra consultation on this issue. For the sake of the future of the EU flock we need to find a satisfactory outcome.”

The NFU joined other farming organisations from across Europe in a demonstration outside the Commission meeting in Luxembourg.

The demonstration, organised by EU farming union COPA hoped to raise awareness of the crisis facing the dairy sector across Europe as a result of low milk prices.

Joining the demonstration, NFU dairy board chairman Gwyn Jones said: “Dairy farmers across Europe are experiencing extremely difficult times with falling milk prices set against increased input costs.

“British milk prices have not fallen as much as prices elsewhere in Europe, but that’s only because the weakness of sterling has offered us some insulation.

“However, the scale of the cuts we have seen means that many farmers are once again getting less for their milk than it costs them to produce it. British milk production has fallen dramatically over the past five years and is currently at its lowest point since the 1970s.

“There is no sign of this decline reversing any time soon.”

First published at 09:44, Friday, 26 June 2009
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk