21 January '10

Animal welfare during transport
The European Union (EU) has completed a radical overhaul of the rules on animal welfare during transport. The new rules identify all the parties involved and set out their respective responsibilities, strengthen monitoring and provide for stricter regulation of long journeys and the vehicles used.

For more information click the link above.

Bien-être des animaux pendant leur transport

L'Union européenne (UE) effectue une refonte totale des règles en matière de bien-être des animaux pendant leur transport. Dans cette nouvelle réglementation, elle identifie tous les intervenants et leurs responsabilités respectives, elle renforce les mesures de surveillance et prévoit des règles plus strictes pour les longs trajets et les véhicules utilisés.

27 September 2008

In the Netherlands most hobby holders do not apply the obligatory ear tags to their animals. Apart from the fact that these holders do not want to see their animals wear these ugly flaps, they also feel that applying is painful and causes stress. Many times the tags cause long lasting wounds and ulcers.

The NBvH has pleaded for an alternative for years. The alternative has been available for years.  Like dogs, cats and horses one could very well have their sheep and goats chipped. A small transponder, a chip[1] the size of a rice grain, can easily be injected under the skin of the skull right behind the ear.

Identification with the injectable transponder is not only animal friendly, it is also the only fraud proof way.

So why don't we have the chip available? ..... ‘Brussels' did not allow it. DID .... Because since 26 September 2008 the Commission has extended the list of means of identification for sheep and goats. Although the reading distance for the injectable should be 20 cm, which means that the chip is not the size of a rice grain but 3x12mm, and  one ear tag is still required, the NBvH is happy about this encouraging step towards the alternative, for which the NBvH will continue to fight.

The goal is: NO EAR TAGS and one small chip, YES.

More information: christinebijl@planet.nl

[1] The chip is made of biopolymer. A material used for human implants that attaches to the skin, so it stays fixed in the same place which makes traceability even after several years very simple.

Press release NBvH (Dutch Hobby and Smallholders Association)                          
NBvH pleased about breakthrough

Sheep and goats born after 30 December 2009 need no longer be double tagged, one ear tag will do. The other tag may be replaced by a ‘chip', an injectable transponder. New EU ruling now allows a chip, as long as the chipped sheep and goats stay within the national borders.