NFU Montgomeryshire chairman Bobby Morgan fears the high costs of implementing electronic identification (EID) will cripple the county's sheep sector and force many farmers out of the industry.

The threat arises from the high costs of implementing the new rules, practical problems with using of EID equipment on farms, in markets and at abattoirs, and the difficulty of recording individual identities.

EID of sheep is set to be implemented in the UK and the rest of the EU on January 1, 2010, less than two years away, but the majority of farmers across Wales believe it will result in massive losses for the industry - it is estimated that EID will cost farmers £6 per head in the first year, knocking about 40 per cent off their incomes overnight.

"We are dead against EID because in the current climate, it is unaffordable, impracticable and simply unacceptable," said Mr Morgan.
"It is all very well them talking about this in Europe where they average less than 100 sheep per flock, but here in upland Wales we average flocks of something in the region of 500 or 600 sheep.

"Wales, and closer to home Montgomeryshire, is a completely different ball game to farming regions in countries such as France and Spain."
Mr Morgan's fears are shared by the Livestock Auctioneers (LAA), who, along with Welshpool Livestock Sales, are raising a petition against the proposal.

A spokesperson for Welshpool Livestock Sales, said: "We want to make it absolutely clear that Welshpool Livestock Sales and the LAA are totally opposed to EID.

"We urge people to sign the petition over the next couple of Mondays at Welshpool."

NFU Cymru are now preparing to take its fight against Compulsory Sheep EID and individual recording back to Brussels once again next Monday, October 6 when Ed Bailey, Vice President, will make a presentation to the European Agriculture Committee.

Mr Bailey will tell MEPs from across Europe how compulsory EID and individual recording not only has the potential to have a damaging effect on the Welsh sheep industry it will also have the potential to affect the competitiveness of the entire EU sheep industry on world markets.

Mr Bailey said: "Trials in Wales have shown and continue to show that there are problems with Electronic equipment when working in the wet and cold conditions that are all too common an occurrence on Welsh sheep farms.

"Farmers are fearful of the imposition of compulsory sheep EID and individual recording which is due to start from January 2010. It will add significant cost and regulatory burden to a sector that can ill afford it."

Mr Bailey's visit to Brussels follows on from recent meetings that he has held with Elin Jones, Minister for Rural Affairs and DEFRA Secretary of State, Hilary Benn, on this issue of critical importance to Welsh sheep farmers.

Ed Bailey concluded: "NFU Cymru will continue to leave no stone unturned in its battle to get this regulation reviewed by the EU Council of Ministers. We will continue to lobby and fight until we find a workable and acceptable solution to this damaging regulation."