Scottish farmers say fight and fight on over EID - Lyon

4.48.34pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 12th Aug 2009

George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, has spent the last two weeks meeting farmers from the Borders to Shetland hearing their views on the introduction of compulsory electronic tagging of sheep – and the message could not be clearer.

Mr Lyon has heard the unanimous view that, even with concessions, the proposed EID scheme is unworkable. Farmers and crofters have warned that if it goes ahead there will be a further exodus of livestock from Scotland’s hill and upland areas.

George Lyon MEPMr Lyon has called on Richard Lochhead to confirm that the campaign has not been put on the backburner and asked him to clarify what steps the Scottish Government is going to take to win further concessions for farmers and crofters over the introduction of EID.

Commenting, Mr Lyon said:

“Over the last two weeks, I have met with hundreds of farmers the length and breadth of Scotland and the almost unanimous view is that the scheme is still unworkable. Farmers expect their Government and their MEPs to pull together and continue to the fight their corner.

"The Cabinet Secretary seemed to be suggesting in his comments at the Keith Show that the campaign was now on the backburner and that EID would go ahead with the rules being bent or ignored when it came to on-farm inspection.

”That is a very dangerous road to go down. As sure as night follows day it will come back and bite us when the EU auditors appear on the scene.

”Most farmers and crofters told me they could live with compulsory tagging but only when livestock leaves the farm.

”The fear is that on-farm tagging and recording of breeding sheep will be impossible to comply with and lead to penalty deductions from SFP.

”The fight must go on. I have made repeated calls for Richard Lochhead to hold a meeting with all interested parties to discuss the way forward. So far he has been unwilling to do so.

“This suggests that his resolve to continue the fight is wavering. It is time we heard from the Cabinet Secretary what his plans are."