ACT New Zealand rural spokesman Owen Jennings said today that there is widespread concern among farmers about the hidden levy incorporated in ear tags which farmers are required to purchase for all stock.

"The Animal Health Board needs to clarify the situation, making it transparent what amount of the cost of the ear tag is being collected as a levy. Farmers are concerned that they are paying a levy that has not been properly authorised or established with proper consultation. Calf rearers found themselves in the difficult position of having to ear tag young calves when ear tags were not available on the market. This delay caused considerably difficulty for those farmers who wanted to sell their calves at an early stage.

"It appears that the Board jumped the gun in requiring young calves to be ear tagged when they were not available.

"It is vital that the Board operates a transparent and practical operation in their pursuit of TB elimination," Mr Jennings said.

ends

© Scoop Media