§ Mr. WoolasTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to propose changes to EU Regulation 820/97 regarding ear tagging of cattle. [85777]
§ Mr. RookerIt would be for the European Commission, not the UK, to make formal proposals to change the European legislation on cattle identification (Council Regulation 820/97). I am aware that some—but not all—farmers are suffering high loss rates of plastic cattle eartags. My Department is looking into why this is the case. Such plastic eartags, although relatively new for the UK, have been in use for some time in other European countries.