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Listen
Scottish Executive
Environment and Rural Affairs
Department CAP Management Division Livestock
ID and Traceability
Branch | Pentland House
47 Robb's Loan
Edinburgh EH14 1TY Telephone: 0131 244 6404
Fax: 0131 244 1946
livestock.ID@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
http://www.scotland.gov.uk Our ref: 21/2004 Consultation
11 August 2005 |
Dear Consultee
SEERAD proposal to introduce changes
to the Scottish sheep and goat identification and
traceability system.
I am writing to seek your comments on proposed changes
to the identification and traceability system for sheep and
goats that currently operates in Scotland. These proposed
changes are required as Scotland - like the rest of the
UK - is required to implement
EC Regulation 21/2004 which came into
effect on 9 July 2005. This Regulation is being introduced
to establish a traceability system in
EU Member States for ovines and caprines
(sheep and goats) to try and control any future outbreak of
disease. It is important to note that 21/2004 is a
cross-compliance element of the new Single Farm Payment
Scheme.
In June 2004 we applied to the Commission for a
derogation from the double tagging requirement within the
Regulation. However, when Commission Auditors visited the
UK in January 2005 to assess our
traceability system they identified some elements which
required improvement. Consequently on 5 July they only
granted the
UK a temporary derogation until 30 April
2006. They have arranged to re-inspect our revised system
this December and we are hopeful they will grant the full
derogation which will allow us to avoid the need to double
identify animals except for those being exported and born
after 9 July 2005.
Receiving this decision on 5 July has given
SEERAD a very tight timescale in which
to formally consult industry and to draft and implement
domestic legislation by the middle of this October.
Consequently we have had to reduce the normal Scottish
Executive consultation period to
4 weeks. However we have been working with
industry stakeholders from the outset and will continue to
do so during the consultation period to resolve any
outstanding issues
Introducing the minor changes required here will have
minimal cost implications for some keepers and other
industry sectors; in some cases there may even be a cost
saving. The bulk of increased costs will be borne by
SEERAD as new and modified databases
will be required to ensure Scotland complies fully with the
new Regulation. These costs are explained in more detail in
the Partial Regulatory Impact Assessment (
RIA) - Annex B of the attached
Consultation paper.
I would welcome your views on the proposed changes to
the current system as detailed in the Consultation paper.
Also enclosed is a list of some questions you may wish to
consider responding to, although you are free to comment on
any part of this paper and accompanying documents.
Please refer to
Annex E of the consultation
paper for guidance on how to respond - by 8 September - to
these proposed changes to the current sheep and goat
identification and traceability system
Yours sincerely
Alistair Henry
Livestock
ID & Traceability Branch
SEERAD
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