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Cattle identification and movement

Plain English guidance on the identification and movement of cattle can be found on the Business Link website.

Latest news

8 March 2011 – Movement restrictions on older cattle introduced

February 2011 – The European Commission is considering the introduction of electronic identification for cattle. Proposals are expected in Autumn 2012.

What keepers have to do

  • all cattle born on their holdings are tagged within set time limits
  • cattle passport applications are received by the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) within 27 days of birth
  • farm holding registers are kept up to date
  • all movement documentation is completed and welfare rules are observed when movements are undertaken
  • movements comply with the conditions of the General Licence for the Movement of Cattle
  • 6 day standstill periods are adhered to and movements are reported within 3 days
  • deaths of cattle are reported within 7 days
  • they co-operate with cattle inspections as and when required. (5% of cattle holdings are inspected on a yearly basis.  This will fall to 3% from June 2011)

Publications

Cattle Identification Inspections (CII)

On-the-spot checks are commonly referred to as Cattle Identification Inspections (CII). Inspections are carried out to check keepers are complying with all cattle identification and registration requirements.

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1082/2003 (as amended) sets out the detailed rules for “on-the-spot” controls. The Regulation requires that:

  • 3% of registered holdings in each EU Member State (MS) are inspected annually
  • the holdings are selected by risk analysis, the criteria for which are set out in the Regulation. The inspections must be unannounced – maximum 48 hours notice
  • an annual report on the results must be sent to the Commission’s DG SANCO by 31 August each year

Results from recent inspection programmes are available below:

Other years’ results are available via the Defra helpline. Further background to cattle inspections can be found on the Business Link website.

Facts and figures

Great Britain has a registered herd of over 8 million cattle.  The herd is spread over around 90,000 registered holdings.  Over two and a half million cattle are born each year and in 2010. 13.5 million movements of cattle were reported.

Further information

Page last modified: 5 September 2011