Financial assistance for sheep electronic identification (EID)

Operators of sheep markets, abattoirs, export assembly centres, and slaughter collection centres are reminded that the closing date for funding applications is Monday 15 February 2010.

Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA announced the funding on 18 January 2010 to help these operators read sheep EID tags and complete movement documents on behalf of keepers. Any operator that wishes to read tags on behalf of keepers must be approved by DARD as a ‘Central Point of Recording’ and must comply with certain conditions of operation.

All operators should have received their application pack in the post by now. If not, please contact Veterinary Service Implementation Support Unit without delay on tel: 028 9052 4711.

Applications received after the deadline cannot be considered.

Notes to editors:

1. The introduction of sheep EID is an EU obligation under Council Regulation 21/2004 and requires the individual identity of sheep and goats born after 31 December 2009 to be recorded when they are moved. In order to allow this to be achieved for sheep, the Regulation requires them to be identified with an EID device and a conventional tag.
2. The objective is to make it easier to trace individual animals, especially in a serious disease outbreak situation, such as Foot and Mouth Disease.
3. Although the Council Regulation is directly applicable here, the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order (NI) 2009 define offences, penalties, derogations and some additional provisions necessary to implement the Regulation here.
4. All media queries should be directed to the DARD Press office on 028 9052 4619. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.