Livestock movements, identification and tracing: sheep & goats - information for EU Member states
Competent authority
Livestock Hub
Defra
Area 5E
9 Milbank
c/o Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
Contact: Andrew Beech
Tel: 020 7238 5635
Fax:020 7238 6214
Email: andrew.j.beech@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Model of eartag used for identification of ovine and caprine animals
A range of eartags can be used for sheep and goat identification purposes.
These include plastic and metal tags of various shapes and sizes, e.g.
loop, button, two-piece flag tags. All eartags supplied from 9 July 2006
must have successfully completed PAS 66:2005
(92 KB). This is the standard all eartags are required to meet before
they can be supplied within GB.
Eartags applied to officially identify a sheep or a goat can be any colour, except red. The colour red is reserved for replacement "R" tags but these animals cannot be exported. Official eartags bear the mark "UK", followed by a 6 digit flock or herd number, followed by an individual animal number with up to a further 6 digits. Some older animals (born before 2003) may be identified with tags bearing the letter "S" instead of "UK".
The UK retains its national identification system, which involves single
tagging and a range of different tag types (e.g. movement tags). A description
of the national system is provided in guidance
for keepers
(222 KB).
Animals exported to Member States will be double tagged in accordance with the requirements of the importing country.
Movement document
A movement document
(53 KB) must be completed each time an animal is moved off a holding.
When moving sheep or goats, keepers must ensure they have met the requirements
of the movement licence
(93 KB).
Page last modified:
20 February, 2008
Page published: 12 February, 2007