Plaid MEP Jill Evans has welcomed the support of the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee for a call to set up a multi-million pound fund to help farmers deal with the implementation of controversial electronic sheep tagging measures.

Ms Evans has been working with farming unions, MEPs and Welsh Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones to halt European Commission plans for compulsory EID (electronic identification) of sheep. The Plaid MEP wants to see a voluntary scheme instead.

But as the date for compulsory implementation approaches, concerns remain about the support in place to help farmers cope with the financial impact.

Speaking from Brussels after the vote, Ms Evans said:

"We will continue our opposition to compulsory EID, but I want to be sure that adequate financial support is made available for farmers if the European Commission fails to change the policy.

"I'm delighted that fellow MEPs have backed an amendment to call for a €125,000,000 EID Relief Fund which, if the worst comes to the worst, would help farmers cope with the costs of implementing the scheme.

"I hope it doesn't get to that stage. We have quite clearly shown how disastrous such a scheme would be for sheep farmers in Wales. It would be hugely expensive and impossible to implement.

"Nonetheless, we have to be prepared for the worst. I have informed the Rural Affairs Minister to ensure that Welsh farmers will be able to access relief funding if this proposal is supported by the full parliament. In the meantime I will continue to campaign for plans to be delayed, if not scrapped altogether."

Diwedd/Ends