Michael Moore MP - Member of Parliament for Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk

Campaigning for local farmers

Michael is campaigning against compulsory sheep id tags

28-Apr-2009

Borders MP Michael Moore is backing a call by the National Farmers Union of Scotland for a compromise solution to be found to the problem of sheep identification tags. Mr Moore recently met with the President and Vice-President of the National Farmers Union of Scotland. He heard directly from them about some of the difficulties already facing hill farmers in Scotland and the additional problems that the sheep tag proposals would cause.

Mr Moore believes there is already plenty of evidence that the European Commission’s proposals, which are due to come into force from 1 January 2010, will result in many farmers being forced to give up their flocks. He says that the proposals as they stand would have a severe financial impact on hill farmers, many of whom are already suffering significant economic pressures.

Following recent questions to the Secretary of State in the Commons, Mr Moore hopes that it will still be possible for the UK Government to persuade the European Commission to abandon their plans altogether. Failing this, Mr Moore believes that Government officials should be actively backing the NFUS’ call for compromise.

Mr Moore has written to Hilary Benn expressing concern about the huge additional burdens that sheep id tags would impose on local farmers.

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