National Sheep Association has been present at today's (June 22nd) gathering of farmers in Luxembourg.
Along with farming unions and other organisations NSA has been able to ensure that our counterpart organisations in other member states know we stand alongside them in many of their concerns
The farmers are focussed around a general theme of threa
ts to food production and its importance to the member state economies right around the EU.
For the UK sheep industry that links directly back into the proposed regulations on EID and the individual recording of sheep.
The news that the Council of Ministers will this afternoon revisit aspects of the EID regulation as a result of a letter written by Secretary of State Hilary Benn to his counterparts has been well received.
This discussion will take place as part of Any Other Business later on today.
George Milne who has a role of EU liaison for NSA throughout the UK has been with the crowds and was heartened by the turnout and the strong feelings resounding through the crowds of farmers from all over the EU.
Mr Milne said 'Estimates are that there were in excess of 5,000 farmers here today from all over the EU. It is also said that there were around 1,000 tractors so it is easy to see how strong feelings are running. Sheep production has figured highly and sheep were penned up at the front of the protest so that the Commission could see the sector was out in force.
Mr Milne continued 'It is good to hear that the Council of Ministers is going to discuss issues around sheep EID again this afternoon. We know support is strengthening and it is vital that countries such as Germany who have indicated their support recently do all they can to add weight to the arguments being made by the UK politicians.'
