“The ICSA is totally opposed to any compulsory EID for cattle,” said Edmond Phelan, ICSA beef chair. “Where there is a management benefit for farmers, we are happy that EID tags should be available on a voluntary basis for those who think that the extra cost is justified.”

IFA national livestock chair Henry Burns welcomed the statement and said the IFA has always insisted that EID should remain voluntary and optional for farmers.

“For the majority of farmers, the introduction of EID is not necessary; impractical, and too costly,” said Burns. “Ireland currently has a strong and secure system of bovine identification providing full individual traceability with double cattle tagging, registration and notification of all movements to a central database.”

Under EU legislation, member states are obliged to have facilities in place to provide for the use of electronic identifiers (electronic tags or electronic bolus) as an official means of identification with effect from 18 July 2019. However, in response to a parliamentary question from Fine Gael TD, Pat Deering, Minister Coveney stated that the Department will merely facilitate EID and not make it compulsory.

“My Department will facilitate the introduction of EID of bovines in accordance with the requirements of the aforementioned EU regulation,” said Coveney. “There are no provisions in the regulation in relation to the mandatory introduction of electronic identification of bovines in advance of 18 July 2019. Nevertheless, my Department already provides for the use of EID tags in the current contract for the supply of bovine tags on a voluntary basis.

“I have no plans to introduce mandatory electronic identification (EID) for bovine animals having regard to the additional costs to herd keepers. However my Department will keep the position under review in the context of consultation with all the stakeholders and developments at EU level.”

He also pointed out that the demand for EID tags is currently very low.

“There is very low demand (approximately 1% of herd keepers) for cattle EID tags at present which cost an additional €1 per animal,” said Coveney. “The cost of an EID reader is also significant.”

Separately, the Department told the Irish Farmers Journal it is aware that a company has developed a tissue tag that is capable of taking a tissue sample which could be analysed in a laboratory for BVD and DNA without compromising the accuracy of either process.