There will be no requirement for the electronic tagging of lambs with EIDs in the new €25m sheep scheme. Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed confirmed the news to IFA’s executive council on Tuesday.

This means the current dispensation for lambs that leave the farm they were born on to travel directly to slaughter is unaffected. A factory tag suffices for such lambs, saving over €1/head.

Farmers had fiercely opposed the suggestion from Meat Industry Ireland and ICOS that the new scheme include an obligation for an electronic tag in all cases.

IFA national sheep chair John Lynskey welcomed the news.

“Minister Creed pointed out that the new sheep scheme design will reflect the different management involved in lowland and hill areas in the options available to farmers,” said Lynskey, adding that the IFA was continuing to work closely with the minister and the Department to ensure that the new scheme was simple and imposed minimal costs on farmers.

Minister Creed also pointed to progress being made on market access for sheepmeat to the United States.

Traceability is an issue in this regard and progress needs to be made on improving the existing system, according to the minister.

The Department of Agriculture will be convening a new consultation process on sheep electronic tagging.