European Commission inspectors are to visit the UK later this month to check on the country's sheep tagging system.
The inspection will assess whether the UK can extend the double tagging derogation beyond June 2007.
Malcolm Corbett, NFU livestock vice-chairman said, "The NFU is pushing for an extension of the double tagging derogation until the rules on individual identification change.
"Further slippage in the Commission report on EID until after July this year lends additional weight to delaying implementation of the new rules beyond January 1 2008.
"NFU livestock chairman Thomas Binns has held discussions with our counterparts in France and Ireland, as well as the policy makers in the Commission, and we are cautiously optimistic that the new rules requiring mandatory EID will be postponed.
"However, in view of the latest announcement from ministers to review the national scrapie plan, we believe this opens up the door to review the need for forthcoming policy that was proposed as a precautionary safeguard measure to protect public health."
"The NFU livestock board continues to have serious reservations over the proposal to introduce mandatory individual electronic identification in sheep, instead favouring batch movements."
"We hope that the latest visit will reassure the European Food and Veterinary Office that batch movements are a sensible and effective process to deliver traceability and, at the same time, minimise the spread of any potential animal disease. It is essential that the necessary controls and check are proportionate to the risks."
