Farmers countrywide are to opt out of the sheep tagging and identification scheme over the next few days.
The move comes after Galway and Mayo farmers withdrew from the scheme yesterday. Hundreds of farmers returned empty sheep flock registers in protests in Galway and Castlebar, saying the scheme was "unworkable".
But the Department of Agriculture says it does not accept Irish sheep farmers are incapable of fulfilling their obligations under the National Sheep Identification System.
IFA Sheep Committee chairman Mr Larry Fallon said the action shows the frustration of farmers who say they are not in a position to comply with the rules and regulations. "The IFA is in favour of tagging and traceability, but this system was introduced without consultation," he said.
Mr Fallon called for an urgent review of the programme with the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Joe Walsh. Otherwise, he said, the protest will gather momentum over the coming days as farmers nationwide pull out of the scheme.
The scheme was introduced last year after the foot-and-mouth disease scare to reassure consumers, but farmers say the system is too bureaucratic.
The Department insists the National Sheep Identification System is working well achieving almost 90 per cent compliance during recent inspections. It says farmers who are opting out of the scheme will damage the integrity of Ireland`s sheep traceability system and create difficulties for themselves over premium payments.