Written Statement: Multispecies traceability system for Wales

I am pleased to announce my decision to develop Wales’ first multispecies traceability system.

Bringing together the separate systems for cattle, sheep and pigs will fulfil European requirements, thus supporting the continuation of trade post-Brexit. It will also improve traceability in the event of a disease outbreak and deliver significant opportunity for the Welsh red meat industry to use the improved data to benefit farmers and the wider supply chain.

Having considered the options, in detail I have decided the best way to deliver a workable solution for Wales is to build on the very successful EIDCymru. In making this decision, I have asked my officials to continue to work closely with the other UK administrations to ensure the respective systems seamlessly exchange data in order to achieve the highest levels of traceability.

My officials will also work closely with Defra and the Livestock Information Programme to ensure, as far as possible, the development of our respective systems move forward together and the transfer of reporting arrangements from the current GB cattle and pig systems is managed effectively.

It is essential our multispecies system provides a platform which is accessible and easy to use by our farmers, livestock markets and abattoirs, building on the success of EIDCymru. In order to ensure this, my officials will continue to work very closely with the Livestock Identification Advisory Group whose expertise and advice has proven so valuable.

The priority is to transfer the cattle system from early 2020. I will be issuing a formal consultation in the New Year on updating Bovine Identification and Movement Recording to include the requirements for Bovine EID. As work progresses, I will update Members.

I have made the decision to develop a Welsh system in the knowledge in Wales we have an excellent  track record of working together to develop successful systems which deliver for Wales.