|
31 July, 2010
 |
Published: 22 October, 2008
A CAITHNESS farmer is the 8000th signatory to a petition against European plans to electronically tag sheep flocks. William Barnetson, from Lynegar, Watten, was presented with a bottle of malt whisky from NFU Scotland to mark the petition milestone. Mr Barnetson, who runs 800 ewes and 170 cows on 1160 acres, farming with his father and two sons, added his support to the farming union's fight to stop compulsory electronic identification of sheep in Scotland.
advertising
Europe intends that from January 1, 2011, sheep in Scotland will require electronic identification (EID) and have their movements individually recorded. Given the extensive nature of sheep farming in Scotland, the NFU argues that this is unaffordable and impractical. The sheep-tagging petition was set up by Teviotdale Farmers' Club, Scottish Farmer magazine and NFU Scotland. The petition was launched in late May and closed at Europe's largest one-day sheep sale, held annually at Lairg each August. All signatures collected have now been added to the petition and the facility to sign online has now been closed. The petition has already been presented to the Petitions Committee in the European Parliament and representatives of the sheep industry recently voiced their concerns when they met with the European Parliament's agriculture committee and representatives of the European Commission. NFU Scotland vice-president Nigel Miller said: "The fact that the vast majority of Scotland's sheep-keepers took the time to sign our petition is a clear indication of the concerns they harbour over the impact of these proposals. "We thank them all for their support and, on their behalf, we will continue to fight for a common-sense outcome to this costly and burdensome proposal. "This petition gives us the backing that we need as we now drive this forward at a European level. "The Scottish industry has delivered a clear and concise message to politicians and commission officials that the planned introduction of electronic tagging for Scotland's sheep flocks is a costly, unnecessary burden that will only accelerate the depopulation of ewes from our hills and uplands. "Europe must recognise that our message was underpinned by more than 8000 signatures secured from Scottish sheep-keepers calling for plans to be scrapped. "We must build on the growing political and industry support for changing these proposals, not just in the UK and Ireland but in other member states. We look forward to commission officials and those MEPs on the agriculture committee taking up the invites extended to them to visit Scotland and view how our sheep industry operates first hand. "At home, we now have many members involved in an electronic identification trial, funded by the Scottish Government and co-ordinated by SAOS. "History has shown us that the EU rarely changes its mind on a regulatory commitment. For the Scottish industry to make the case for common sense in Brussels, we need additional proof. This trial will be important in making the case to Europe for proportionate regulation and once again our members are playing their part." 
|
 WHAT'S ON
THE BIG VOTE
Does Caithness have enough wind farms? Local Guides
|
