Lyon: Non-EU states must meet EID standards to protect sheep industry

10.06.00am GMT Thu 29th Oct 2009

George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, has called on the European Commission to make it compulsory for countries from outside the EU to meet the same traceability standards as EU Member States before imports are allowed as the implementation of electronic tagging of sheep (EID) grows ever closer.

Mr Lyon wants the Commission to help protect consumers and farmers from the threat of diseases such as foot and mouth by requiring non-EU states to enforce the same level of traceability as will be required across the EU when EID comes into effect early next year.

Mr Lyon has tabled a question to the Commission asking when this necessary measure will be required of third countries.

Commenting, Mr Lyon said:

"As of next year farmers and crofters in Scotland and other sheep farmers across Europe will be required to adhere to strict traceability rules. It is only fair that imports from other countries be required to meet the same standards.

"The protection of our sheep farming industry must be paramount. I don't want all the hard work that has been done in stamping out diseases, such as foot and mouth, to go to waste because other producers can use their own rules while profiting from our market.

"The Commission must make it plain to third countries who wish to export to the EU that high standards of traceability must be met. This will not only provide a level playing field but reassurance to Scottish farmers and consumers on the safety of our food chain."

Notes:

The full question Mr Lyon has put to the European Commission is as follows:

"As EU sheep farmers are having to implement EID from the 1st January 2010 in order to protect consumers and farmers from the threat of disease outbreaks such as Foot and Mouth, when are the European Commission going to require lamb imports from third countries to meet the same standards of traceability?"