Livestock movements, identification and tracing: guidance on Cattle Identification Regulations 2007
The Regulations on cattle identification are changing. The new Regulations come into force on 6 April 2007. Until 6 April 2007 the previous Regulations on cattle identification will continue to apply. This page provides guidance on the new Cattle Identification Regulations 2007.
Previously the legislation implementing EU Regulations on cattle identification and registration was spread between nine different Statutory Instruments. The Cattle Identification Regulations 2007 consolidates all the previous legislation and provides a single point of reference which will be simpler for everyone. All references to European legislation have also been updated.
Cattle identification is a devolved matter and consequently separate Statutory Instruments will be laid in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland already has separate legislation. This guidance is for England only.
The majority of identification requirements remain unchanged, although the format of the Regulations has changed considerably so they look quite different.
The identification requirements of the Regulation are now contained in five separate schedules. The first schedule is on eartags, the second on registration of cattle, the third on cattle passports, the fourth on notification of movement or death and the fifth on records.
Below is a section by section guide to the new requirements of the Cattle Identification Regulations 2007. We have outlined the basic rules – most of which remain unchanged. Unless otherwise specifically stated, the previous identification requirements are unchanged.
Schedule 1 - eartags
Tagging requirements
- Cattle born after 1 January 1998 must have a Defra approved eartag in each ear (double tagging), each tag must have the same unique number giving the official identification of the animal within the national herd and identifying the holding on which the animal was born
- Animals born or imported into Great Britain before 1 January 1998 may continue to be identified by a single tag in the right ear
- All cattle must be tagged within 20 days of birth. In the case of dairy animals at least one of the tags must be fitted within 36 hours of birth
- Animals imported from third countries (countries outside the EU) must be re-tagged in each ear within 15 days of import with Defra approved tags
Date of birth |
Tagging requirements |
Example of tagging format |
| 15 October 1990 to 1 April 1995 | Eartag or tattoo | A1234 123 B654 3210 D123 123C |
| 1 April 1995 to 31 December 1997 | At least one eartag with a unique alpha-numeric identity. Includes UK at the beginning | UKAB1234 56789 UK A1234 56789 |
| 1 January 1998 to 31 December 1999 | Eartag in each ear (double tagging) with the same unique identity for the lifetime of the animal. Includes UK at the beginning | UKAB1234 56789 UK A1234 56789 |
| 1 January 2000 to present (1 July 2000 made compulsory) | Eartag in each ear with the same unique numeric (numbers only) identity for the lifetime of the animal. Includes UK at the beginning | UK666666500046 |
- Replacement tags – if an animal loses an eartag, or the number on it becomes illegible, the keeper shall have 28 days to re-tag it . Art 6(1) of CIR provides for an offence if any person removes or replaces an eartag without permission
- Replacing lost eartags
- Lost tags fitted to animals born after 1 January 1998 can only be replaced with a tag showing the same number, as the animal must keep its unique identity for life
- For animals born before 1 January 1998 you may do one of the following:
- Apply a single replacement tag showing the same number
- Apply a new single tag showing a new number. You must return the certificate of registration (COR) and old style (blue and green)
- Apply a new set of double tags. You must return the certificate of registration (COR) and old style (blue and green)
- Whenever you apply new tags, you must update your records to show the new details
Changes to tagging rules
Bison tagging requirements
Schedule 1, paragraph 1(3)(c)
The tagging requirements for all cattle other than bison are unchanged. For bison the tagging deadline, in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 509/1999, has been extended to nine months. The young bison must however be tagged before nine months if they are separated from their dams or leave the holding of birth. A passport application must still be filled in and must be received by the British Cattle Movements Service (BCMS) no later than seven days after birth.
Form of eartags - paragraph 2(3)
A barcode may now be included on eartags – although it is not compulsory.
Replacement eartags - paragraph 4(4)
The acceptable format for replacement eartags for animals brought in from other EU Member States has now been regularised in line with Commission Regulation (EC) No 911/2004. Eartags must still have the animal’s original identification code, but now may also have the crown logo. This is the only change.
Transferring eartags - paragraph 4(5)
It is now an offence to identify an animal with eartags which have already been used to identify and register a different animal on the Cattle Tracing System (CTS).
Eartags for animals kept for cultural or historical purposes - paragraph 6(1)
This is a new derogation, in line with Commission Regulation (EC) No 644/2005. It allows premises which are run for historical or cultural purposes to apply to register with BCMS in order to be allowed to remove the official eartags of cattle kept on the premises, and not to tag cattle born on the premises, while they are on the premises. It does not affect keepers' responsibilities to notify births, movements and deaths to CTS, nor to keep proper records. The animals must be identified by a ruminal bolus. A specific registration code must be given to the premises to be registered on CTS. The holding must be inspected annually.
Temporary mark - paragraph 7
This paragraph gives inspectors powers to apply a temporary mark to animals that are not properly identified. In practice this will involve applying a Ministry tag to the animal or to apply an identifying mark with a spray can.
Schedule 2 - registration of cattle
Registration rules
- Applications to register an animal on the Cattle Tracing System can
be made to the British Cattle Movement Services (BCMS), Workington in
three ways:
- by using the pre-printed application form sent automatically when an order for eartags is confirmed
- by email using the Standard Interface Specification (SIS) System. (available for animals still on their holding of birth)
- through CTS Online
- A keeper must register an animal within seven days of the animal having been tagged (normally 27 days from birth)
Changes to registration rules
Registration of birth - paragraph 3(2)
This requires that bison are registered within seven days of birth. This is a requirement of the derogation for the tagging of bison to be delayed for nine months.
Registration of cattle brought in from another EU Member State etc - paragraph 4(2)
If the first destination of cattle brought in is a market or a showground, a passport does not need to be applied for until the cattle reach a holding that is not a market or showground.
Schedule 3 - cattle passports, part 1 - passports
Passport requirements
- All cattle born in or imported into Great Britain since 1 July 1996 must have a valid cattle passport and must be accompanied by that passport when they move
- Applications for cattle passports must be made within seven days of tagging
- For cattle imported from outside the European Union the keeper must apply for a cattle passport within 15 days of tagging
- For cattle from another EU Member State, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, keepers must apply for a GB cattle passport within 15 days of arrival at the holding of destination and return foreign passports if appropriate
- Passports must accompany the animal on all movements
- Markets may not accept for sale or sell cattle not accompanied by a valid cattle passport
- Slaughterhouse operators must ensure that only cattle accompanied by a valid passport enter the food chain
- The Official Veterinary Surgeon (OVS) receives the passport from the slaughterhouse operator with the date of slaughter completed, and checks the identities of the carcase. The OVS returns the passport to BCMS
- If the animal is slaughtered or dies on the holding, the completed passport must be returned to BCMS within seven days
- Export requirement: cattle to be exported within the European Union must have a valid cheque-style GB passport. The passport accompanies the animal to its destination
- Cattle to be exported outside of the European Union must have a full GB passport. The passport accompanies the animal but is surrendered to BCMS when the animal is loaded for export
Changes to passport rules
Issue of a passport - paragraph 1(2)
We are introducing an additional appeal mechanism where an application for a passport has not been submitted within the 27 day period. Under this mechanism keepers may choose to have their calf and its dam DNA tested to prove it is the offspring of the dam stated on the application form. This may allow authorities to issue passports when applications are late, without compromising traceability. All appeals will continue to be considered by the BCMS on an individual basis. However, use of this option will be closely monitored to ensure that there is no reduction in the number of applications submitted within the 27 day deadline. For further details please contact BCMS, as regional variations may apply.
Fees for replacement passports - paragraph 4
The fees for replacement passports have now changed. There will no longer be a blanket charge of £50 for all lost, stolen or destroyed passports. The fee that BCMS will charge for a replacement passport will now be published on the Defra website. This will be regularly updated and may change. The fee will be what the Secretary of State considers reasonable to cover the administrative costs of recreating and re-issuing a passport.
Misusing a passport - paragraph 8
It is now an offence for anyone to use a passport for any animal other than the animal it was issued for.
Part 2 - movement using passports
Changes to rules
Abolition of temporary calf passports (TCPs)
Pre-printed passport application forms can currently double as a TCP. These forms are sent automatically to keepers at the same time as their eartag orders are despatched, so that the keeper has the tags and passport application form for the eartag number to hand immediately on the birth of the calf. The back of the form has “boxes” for recording movement details or death, and thus can be used as a temporary movement document before the full passport is issued. These can be used to move calves under 4 weeks of age twice before they must be registered on the CTS database (and a full passport applied for).
From 6 April 2007 all calves must have a full passport before they move off their holding birth. Temporary calf passports will be illegal and no animals should be moved using them on or after 6 April 2007. Any keeper that continues to use temporary calf passports to move animals will be guilty of an offence and their Single Farm Payment may be affected.
There are only three exceptions when animals under 27 days will be allowed to move before they have a full passport:
- Animals going straight to slaughter at a knackers' yard. This does not include animals that go into the food chain or to a full throughput abattoir, even if they are disposed of as a by-product. These animals all need full passports. No animal will be accepted for slaughter for human consumption without a full passport
- animals that need to be fostered
- animals that need to be moved because of danger to their well-being, e.g. flood, fire etc
To move these animals before a full passport has been issued keepers must contact BCMS to gain a licence and have the movements properly recorded on CTS. They will then need to return the licence with the passport application to enable BCMS to issue a passport.
Markets and animal gatherings - paragraph 14(1)
Under the previous Cattle Identification Regulations 1998 it was already an offence for the market operator to accept animals without a valid passport. This rule has now been extended to include animal gatherings. For the purposes of these Regulations, "animal gathering" means an occasion at which animals are brought together. These include:
- a sale, show or exhibition
- onwards consignment
- inspection to confirm the animals possess specific breed characteristics
Schedule 4 - notification of movement or death
Movement requirements
The following cattle movements must be reported:
- On and off farms
- To and from markets and through markets
- To slaughterhouses (and off if the animal is not slaughtered)
- Movements must be reported within three days
- The keeper must notify the British Cattle Movement Service of the death of an animal within seven days by surrendering the cattle passport (notification shall be in writing for animals who do not have a cattle passport)
Notification of death - paragraph 2
The section on the notification of deaths looks very different to the previous Regulations, although the requirements are largely unchanged.
The only major change is that the requirements to ensure that the animals are properly identified at time of slaughter are no longer contained in this Regulation. It is still a legal requirement but is now required in Food Hygiene Regulations, and not the Identification Regulations. Please contact the Food Standards Agency for further details.
Schedule 5 - records
Cattle records requirements are unchanged.
Register requirements
Register must be completed within the following deadlines:
- 36 hours in the case of movement on or off a holding
- Seven days for the birth of a dairy animal
- 30 days for the birth of cattle not in a dairy herd
- Seven days of death
- 36 hours of replacing eartags
The Register may be paper or computer based and must record details of births, deaths and movements on to and off the holding.
Registers must be retained by farms for ten years, and three years in any other case (e.g. markets), from the end of the calendar year in which the last entry was made.
The register must contain the:
- identification code
- date of birth
- sex
- breed or colour of coat
- identification code of the mother or, in the case of an animal imported from a third country, the identification number given following inspection
- identification number of holding where born
- identification numbers of all holdings where animal has been kept and the dates of each change of holding
- date of death or slaughter
- date of death of the animal on the holding
- In the case of animals departing from the holding:
- name and address of the keeper (except transporters) or the identification code of the holding to which the animal was transferred as well as the date of departure
In the case of animals arriving on the holding:
- name and address of the keeper (except the transporters)
- or the identification code of the holding from whom/which the animal was transferred, as well as the date of arrival
- name and signature of the representative of the competent authority which checked the register, and the date the check was carried out
Page last modified:
22 November, 2007
Page published: 21 March, 2007