New EU regulations forcing farmers to electronically tag every sheep in Wales are simply not working, says Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies.
The Electronic Identification (EID) scheme came into force on January 1st and means that every sheep now has to have a microchip so that it can be individually identified and recorded. The scheme is supposed to improve traceability of individual animal movements.
However a local auctioneer has got in touch with Mr Davies to say that the new scheme is unworkable.
“We knew all along that this was a bit of Big Brother bureaucracy gone mad,” said Mr Davies. “I am all for traceability but when it comes to every single sheep having to be electronically tagged, checked and monitored it’s ridiculous.
“The auctioneer told me that the system simply isn’t working which is no great surprise.”
Mr Davies has now written to Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones about his concerns.
