Livestock movements, identification and tracing: sheep and goats
New rules for sheep and goat identification were introduced on 11 January 2008. All registered keepers were sent full guidance on the 4 January 2008. Electronic copies are available below.
- Guidance for keepers in England
- Rules for identifying sheep and goats - January 2008
(312 KB) - Q&A for the introduction of double-tagging for sheep and goats on 11 January 2008
- A useful summary of the double tagging rules provided by Eblex for the advantage of keepers (350 KB)
Whether you keep one sheep or goat as a pet, or a commercial herd/flock you need to follow certain rules regarding the identification and movement of your animal.
- 6 November 2007 - Consultation: Consultation on the double tagging of sheep and goats - European law (Council Regulation (EC) 21/2004) requires all Member States to double tag sheep and goats. However, there is provision for a derogation which allows Member States to use a single means of identification, but only if this provides equivalent traceability. The UK was granted this derogation on a temporary basis, but this expired in June 2007 when the European Commission concluded that compliance with the current regulation was insufficient to ensure equivalent traceability. The UK is therefore obliged to introduce double tagging and Defra is requesting comments on our plans to implement this in England. The closing date for this consultation was 20 November 2007.
- The UK withdraws application for extension to double tagging derogation. New double tagging rules will be introduced by the end of the year (2007) for all breeding animals. Animals going for slaughter will continue to be single tagged. Information will be sent to all sheep and goat keepers in due course.
Livestock movements
Prior to any movement the owner/keeper shall inspect sheep and goats to be moved for signs of foot and mouth disease. If any evidence of such disease is found it must be notified without delay to the Divisional Veterinary Manager (DVM) of the local Animal Health Divisional Office.
All sheep and goat movements must be accompanied by a completed AML movement document. Sheep and goat movement must be reported by the recipient of the animals to the Local Authority within three days of the movement taking place, using the appropriate AML form.
| Licences valid from 00:01 on the 7th February 2008. |
- General licence for the movement of sheep and goats (66 KB)
- Annex A to C (70 KB)
- Standard Movement Documents
Flock/herd register
- All sheep and goat keepers in the UK are required to keep a flock/herd register. This record may be kept on paper or electronically. Keepers can determine their own method for maintaining the record (book, file, spreadsheet) but must ensure that the information recorded is in the same format and order as the register above.
Identification and tracing
- Electronic identification
- Registering your sheep and goats
- The law
- Tagging
- Information for EU Member States
- The Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement (England) Order 2007 (200 KB)
- Impact Assessment (264 KB)
Page last modified:
20 May, 2008
Page published: 12 February, 2007