Delay to sheep-tagging rules welcome news for local farmers

Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has welcomed news that UK ministers have been successful in delaying the implementation of new EU sheep movement recording rules that could have cost farmers and crofters an estimated £11.5 million.

The decision from the EU Commission came just days before a new requirement to record the movements of individual animals born before December 31, 2009, was due to come into force.

Agriculture minister Jim Paice MP confirmed this week that UK farmers would now have until 2014 to prepare for the change.