EID COULD MAKE A THIRD OF WELSH SHEEP FARMERS QUIT - WILLIAMS

8.23.00am GMT Tue 24th Mar 2009

Ceredigion's Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams has expressed his concern after new figures released by the NFU revealed that 84% of Welsh sheep farmers said that they would reduce their flock if EID and Individual recording is introduced, while 32% said they might get rid of their entire flock.

The figures come from a survey of 1,000 livestock producers carried out in January and February by the NFU, NFU Scotland and NFU Cymru.

The figures come ahead of a meeting of the EU's Agricultural Ministers on Monday (23rd March), where EID will be on the agenda. It was agreed to look at electronic tagging plans again after the Hungarian Government raised the issue.

Commenting, Mark Williams said:

"These new rules will cost farmers thousands of pounds so I'm not surprised that some are considering their future, but the scale of the figures should give even the most ardent proponent of electronic identification pause for thought.

"It is crucial that Hilary Benn makes it clear that the UK is against compulsory implementation, and the Government need to continue to work behind the scenes to get as many votes in the Council of Ministers as they can.

"This may well be the last chance to halt this, so the Government should pull out all the stops to get the best deal they can for Welsh farmers.

"These figures paint a bleak picture of what will happen if we are forced to implement EID."

ENDS