Electronic identification (EID) tags should be subsidised at €1 per tag, the IFA has said in a submission to Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed.

The recent move to introduce compulsory EID tagging for sheep by October this year, has been met with a mixed response.

Meat factories and the Minister state it will improve traceability and trade, but many farmers insist that it is an additional, unnecessary cost.

The IFA national sheep chairman Sean Dennehy said sheep farmers were very annoyed and angry by the lack of consultation shown by the minister, and stated it would cost sheep farmers €2m per year.

The organisation has also insisted that there is no need for EID tagging for animals going direct from farm of origin to slaughter, and that the date of introduction for EID should be pushed back.

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EID tagging a 7% income cut for sheep farmers - ICSA

Listen: 'Best available traceability technology' – Creed defends EID sheep tags