Livestock movements, identification and tracing: sheep & goats - update on identification rules for sheep and goats destined for intra-Community trade
Please note that this is an amendment to the advice issued in December 2005.Council Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 requires that all animals born after 9 July 2005 that are sent to other EU Member States must be "double-tagged". This was subsequently extended to include all animals, regardless of age.
Our December guidance stated that exporters should contact the destination state in order to ascertain if they will accept animals marked with an "X" tag, or whether they will require two identical holding of birth tags.
Since then the European Commission has made it clear that all sheep and goats for intra-Community trade (trade between EU Member States) must be tagged with two identical holding of birth tags. The second “match-up” tag should be applied at the holding of departure, just prior to leaving the UK. In the case of animals exported via an assembly centre the application of the “match-up” tag must occur at the holding from which the animals are sent to the assembly centre.
For more information please contact the Defra helpline on 08459 33 55 77 or view the guidance available on our website.
If you are in England and have a particular enquiry regarding the material in this letter please contact:
Barry Austin
Area 211
1A Page Street
London, SW1A 4PQ
Tel: 0207 904 6095
Email: barry.austin@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Exporters in Wales should address any enquiries to:
Ann Lyn Robinson
Animal Transport & ID Branch, OCVO
Welsh Assembly Government
Penrallt
Caernarfon
N Wales, LL55 1EP
Tel:01286 662027
Email: ann.robinson@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Enquiries relating to the identification of exported sheep and goats in Scotland should be directed to:
Holly Kirk
Room 215
Pentland House
47 Robbs Loan
Edinburgh, AH14 1TY
Tel: 0131 244 6404
Email: holly.kirk@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Terry Gurnhill, Animal Identification and Movement Division
Page last modified:
11 July, 2008
Page published: 12 February, 2007