Commission boost for sheep sector

The Scottish sheep sector has received a boost with news that the European Commission will now allow member states to adopt alternative methods for identifying the age of sheep prior to slaughter.

NFU Scotland (NFUS) hailed the changes, which were agreed by the European Commission’s Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed.

The committee voted in favour of adopting an amendment to the regulations governing controls for TSES (transmissible spongiform encephalopathies).

The TSE rules were introduced in 1996 in the wake of the BSE crisis.

They require the carcases of lambs and sheep to be split and the spinal cord removed if the lambs are old

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It’s important industry resumes discussions with regulators on this sensible proposal

enough to have their first pair of permanent teeth.

NFUS and other farm industry organisations have described the rules as time-consuming with questionable accuracy.

The National Sheep Association previously estimated the “burdensome rules” cost the UK sheep sector around £23 million every year.

The new amendment to the legislation will allow domestic regulators in the UK to adopt alternative methods of identifying sheep age, rather than just checking for incisor teeth.

NFUS president Andrew Mccornick said the union had consistently argued for increased flexibility on the method of identifying age, to take into account the variances in sheep production across Europe.

“This positive development strengthens the overarching European regulation by allowing flexibility within EU member states, and follows direct representations being made by NFU Scotland to the UK Government,” said Mr Mccornick.

“The UK sheep industry has previously agreed proposals to implement an alternative method of using a cut-off date each year after which sheep are considered to be over 12 months old.

“It’s important that industry resumes discussions with regulators on this sensible proposal.”

He said if industry moved away from having to check for permanent incisors, there was potential to save the sheep sector time and money, and potentially enhance the profitability of the sector.

The Scottish Government also welcomed the change and said it would consider the practical implications of implementing a new method.