NSA Council met and held its AGM in Malvern last Thursday - June 12th. The meeting, which saw Norfolk sheep farmer Jonathan Barber re-elected for a second year as Chairman of NSA Council, was dominated by robust and often heated discussion on the EU proposals to introduce EID and the individual recording of sheep. 

Mr Barber said ‘I am delighted to have been re-elected to this position for a second year and I will continue to lead NSA in its total opposition to the proposed introduction of these ridiculous rules. NSA has once again today reaffirmed in the strongest possible terms its stance that it will always fight against these rules. The Council reiterated its desire for that to continue up to and beyond the end of this year when it is said the changes are due to be foisted upon us.’  

The Council was particularly concerned about the impact that the regulations would have on individual farmers trying to run efficient sheep farming businesses. These concerns not only surround on farm issues but also the potential impact on trade with there being a risk of lower prices being paid for store lambs if trade in any part of the UK is compromised by the regulations. 

Mr Barber continued ‘English and Welsh administrations are currently out to formal consultation with industry on how to implement these rules. Council agreed that NSA must respond fully to the consultations and at the same time leave the administrations under no illusion about the level of anger that exists amongst sheep farmers in their opposition to these regulations. This NSA approach will continue to be consistent across the UK. NSA Council was unanimous in demanding that as these regulations are supposedly all about disease control then administrations right across UK must also act in a uniform manner.‘