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Lack of guidance on introduction of sheep EID unacceptable - Lyon
January 13, 2010 11:43 AM
George Lyon MEP has joined with Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs spokesperson Liam McArthur to demand that the Scottish Government publish guidance for Scottish farmers on the introduction of electronic sheep tagging.
Answers to Parliamentary Questions lodged by Mr McArthur confirm that Ministers have not yet brought out guidance on how sheep EID rules will operate, despite the fact that the regulations came into effect across Scotland at the start of the year.
Ministers were also unable to provide any firm date when farmers might expect to see such guidance.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland George Lyon said:
"The UK Government has already issued guidance for EID implementation in England, so I fail to understand what the delay is in Scotland. Farmers need to know what they are doing.
"Repeated calls for the Scottish Government to help farmers with the cost of implementation fell on deaf ears.
"While other EU Member States are helping make the best of this unnecessary and unwanted regulation, the Scottish Government seems content to let farmers suffer in silence."
Mr McArthur added:
"The failure by Scottish Ministers to make available clear guidance on sheep EID is unacceptable.
"Given fears about the impact these regulations will have on the sheep industry in Scotland, it was not unreasonable to expect Scottish Ministers to do all in their power to assist farmers, both with the costs and guidance on how the requirements will be implemented.
"These answers simply confirm that the Scottish Government does not share this sense of urgency.
"A vague promise from Richard Lochhead that guidance will be published 'in the early part of 2010' simply isn't good enough.
"The Cabinet Secretary must commit to publishing guidance at the earliest possible opportunity."
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