Does the Government support the introduction of EID?
EID is a mandatory EU requirement given the size of the UK flock. Minister for Rural Affairs Elin Jones has made her position on EID very clear throughout 2008/9. If there was any choice Wales would not introduce it. However not implementing a Regulation would be illegal and also risk severe financial penalties, therefore Wales will have to implement it. There remain concerns about the disproportionate costs and limited benefits of individual recording and EID. Efforts to persuade the Commission to review the Regulation or persuade other Member States to support the UK objections failed to secure the necessary support. Work continues to secure further concessions to the way EID is evebntually implemented.
