Sheep and goats will be electronically tagged prior to sale or slaughter if Tynwald gives the go-ahead this month.

The measure will ensure greater traceability of Manx meat, boosting customer confidence in its quality.

Tynwald will be asked to approve the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 2015.

Under it, farmers will be required to apply tags to sheep or goats being sold on, used for breeding or destined for the food chain.

The measure is in line with EU rules and will enable the Island to maintain its important meat and live export trade.

Richard Ronan MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: ‘While electronic tags have been used in breeding sheep for some years, ensuring the traceability of all sheep now requires these tags to be used in meat lambs, too.

‘Modern electronic recording systems will be used at the Meat Plant by the end of the year and also the Mart, where sheep are sold locally.

‘These recording systems read the transponders in the tags and send information to a central database. In this way, we can be sure of the source of our lamb and give onward guarantees to customers both on and off the Island.’