§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she plans to publish information concerning the new arrangements for the EC directive on animal identification; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesFollowing the major consultation exercise with the industry last year on how to implement the EC directive on animal identification, EEC 92/102, we have been in close and regular contact with industry organisations on the detailed arrangements. Our aim is to achieve a smooth transition to the new arrangements and to that end we have decided to allow an extra three months between 1 July and 30 September 1994 during which calves may be marked with either the new or old-style ear tags. From 1 October only the new-style tags should be used. To publicise the new arrangements we shall be running a poster campaign at livestock markets and taking advertisements in the farming press and all livestock farmers will be sent a leaflet.