New rules announced for Sheep EID and individual identification of Goats

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) today announced the new rules for electronic identification (EID) of sheep and individual identification of goats.

The new system, which requires that individual tag numbers of sheep and goats be recorded, is compulsory under EU legislation to ensure effective traceability. The system will be in place from 31 December 2009 and the main elements of the new rules will be phased in during the year.

The Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order (NI) 2009 has been made and will come into operation on 31 December 2009. The main components of the system are:

• All lambs born or first tagged after 31 December 2009 must be identified with two identifiers bearing the same number, one of which must carry an EID device.
• Animals born after 31 December 2009 do not have to be tagged until they are nine months old or are being moved off the holding, whichever is the earlier. The new EID tags, which will be yellow, will therefore not be needed for them until this point.
• Existing green tags cannot be applied to animals after 31 December 2009.
• Animals presently on farm will have to be upgraded to the new identification system from 1 June 2010, but only when they move off the holding.
• Current export rules will continue until 31 May 2010 for animals born before the end of 2009 and the use of the blue export tag will be allowed.
• Most keepers will not have to buy or use EID readers as we intend to allow markets and meat plants to read tags on their behalf. This means that keepers will not have to list tag numbers on these movement documents.
• Goat keepers will have to comply with the same recording requirements as flock-keepers but they will not have to apply an EID tag.
• Any slaughter tagged lambs, born after 31 December 2009, coming to the North from Britain will have to be upgraded to full EID before they leave Britain.
• Keepers will retain their existing flock or herd number. Each flock/herd number will have the digit ‘’1’’ placed in front of it, so that all sheep and goat tag numbers in the north will begin with “17”.
• There are a number of options available when applying replacement tags depending on the age and origin of the animal and these rules will be covered in more detail in the guidance booklet, which will be issued shortly. Where the animal is no longer on the holding of birth replacement tags must be red.
• Keepers will have the option of using a paperless system of traceability by providing their information electronically through Aphis-Online.

DARD will write shortly to all keepers of sheep and goats to provide them with details of the new system. Guidance booklets together with flock/herd registers and movement document books will follow. The current documents should be used until then.

A series of information seminars to help explain the new rules on EID will be held in your area over the coming weeks. Details will follow.

Notes to Editors:

1. The introduction of sheep EID is an EU obligation under Council Regulation 21/2004 and requires the individual identity of sheep and goats born after 31 December 2009 to be recorded when they are moved. In order to allow this to be achieved for sheep, the Regulation requires them to be identified with an EID device and a conventional tag.
2. The objective is to make it easier to trace individual animals, especially in a serious disease outbreak situation, such as Foot and Mouth Disease.
3. Although the Council Regulation is directly applicable here, the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order (NI) 2009 SR No. 411 defines offences, penalties, derogations and some additional provisions necessary to implement the Regulation here.
4. All media enquiries should be directed to the DARD Press Office on 028 9052 4619. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.