The European Commission has advised Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots that there is “no room for manoeuvre” on the issue of breeding sheep owned by NI farmers, still stuck on winter grazing in Britain.

In a letter sent by the Minister to MLAs on the Stormont Agriculture Committee, he said that a derogation had been sought, but it has been turned down.

Estimates suggest that up to 7,000 mainly Blackface hoggets were due to come to NI this year, after being bought as ewe lambs by NI farmers.

However, under the new rules that came into play with the implementation of the NI Protocol, these sheep now require an Export Health Certificate (EHC) to accompany a move into the EU (including NI).

Scrapie

Among the requirements of the EHC is that breeding sheep must be from scrapie monitored flocks, of which there are very few in Britain.

There also seems to be no movement on the similar issue of pedigree cattle from NI going to shows or sales in Britain. To return to NI, the relevant EHC to accompany the move requires the animal to be resident in Britain for at least six months.

So while pedigree bulls can still go to sales in the likes of Stirling and Carlisle, in practice, it is a one-way ticket. “As things stand, it is also the end of all shows for NI breeders in Britain,” added UFU president Victor Chestnutt.

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