Contact the Rural Team
Exeter Office
Susie Murray 01392 210700
St Austell Office
Scott Mitchell 01726 74433
Truro Office
Richard Baker 01872 265100
Sheep farmers across the South West are being reminded that changes to electronic identification (EID) rules are being introduced later this month.
South West legal firm Stephens Scown, which has a dedicated rural team with offices in Exeter, Truro and St Austell, is raising awareness of the alteration to electronic tagging announced by Defra earlier this year.
Susie Murray, solicitor with Stephens Scown, said "Although far from perfect the relaxation in the rules make them far more practicable than initially anticipated".
From 31 December 2009, the new rules will allow electronic tags to be read at markets and abattoirs, as opposed to on-the-farm. However, the regulations will mean all farmers have to individually tag (with tags or boluses) their sheep and record each animal's identity in the
holding register. All lambs electronically identified will have to be recorded individually in a holding register - any changes to the register will need to be recorded. The rules will predominantly affect lambs intended for breeding which are born after 31 December 2009.
All sheep born after 31 December will have to be electronically identified, but sheep being sent to slaughter within 12 months or sheep born before this date and already identified won't have to be tagged in the same way.
Susie Murray wants to draw attention to the new rules, as it will have significant implications for producers across the region, "It's in their best interests to be aware of the changes, as farmers could unwittingly break the law by not complying. It will also affect smallholders and anyone wishing to sell, slaughter or move their animals."
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