The Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order (Northern Ireland) 2005

PART III IDENTIFICATION OF ANIMALS

Identification of animals born on or before 8th July 2005

8.—(1) In the case of an animal born on or before 8th July 2005 that is not individually identified, the keeper shall attach to the animal’s left ear, a green approved eartag before it is moved off the holding.

(2) This Article does not apply to any animal that is individually identified with an eartag or tattoo applied under previous Orders or, (in the case of an animal from England, Scotland or Wales) an eartag applied under any previous provisions which give effect to the Council Regulation in England, Scotland or Wales.

Identification of animals born in Northern Ireland on or after 9th July 2005

9.—(1) The keeper shall identify an animal born on or after 9th July 2005 in accordance with Article 4(1) and (2) of the Council Regulation and this Article.

(2) For the purposes of Article 4(1) of the Council Regulation, the keeper of an animal to which this Article applies shall attach to the animal’s left ear, a green approved eartag (hereinafter referred to as the “natal tag”)—

(a) 9 months from the date of birth; or

(b) before the animal leaves the holding on which it was born;

whichever is the earlier.

(3) For the purposes of Article 4(2)(b) of the Council Regulation, the second means of identification is—

(a) an eartag conforming to Section A.4 of the Annex to the Council Regulation;

(b) an electronic transponder conforming to Sections A.2, A.4 and A.6 of the Annex to the Council Regulation; or

(c) in the case of goats only, a mark on the pastern.

(4) A person shall not add numbers or letters to an eartag other than in accordance with this Order.

(5) A person shall not attach an eartag to any animal unless that eartag is—

(a) approved by the Department; and

(b) inscribed with the indicator “UK 9”, the appropriate herd or flock number and an individual animal identification number allocated to the animal.

Derogation from the requirement to apply a second means of identification

10.—(1) Subject to paragraph 2, in accordance with Article 4(2)(c) of the Council Regulation, the system to replace the second means of identification in accordance with Section A.5 of the Annex to that Regulation is set out in Schedule 1.

(2) The provisions of Schedule 1 shall apply in addition to the requirements of—

(a) Part III of this Order and Article 4 of the Council Regulation (identification of animals born on or after 9th July 2005);

(b) Part IV of this Order and Article 5 of the Council Regulation (holding register); and

(c) Part V of this Order and Article 6 of the Council Regulation (movement documents).

Animals intended for slaughter

11.  The identification method in Article 4(3) of the Council Regulation and Section A.7 of the Annex to that Regulation shall not be used.

Identification of animals imported from third countries

12.—(1) The keeper shall comply with Article 4(4) of the Council Regulation and this Article, in the case of an animal imported from a third country.

(2) For the purposes of Article 4(4) of the Council Regulation, the period for identifying an animal with a green approved eartag in its right ear is 6 days.

(3) Where an animal is imported into Northern Ireland from any place outside the European Community it may be moved from the point of importation to the holding of destination stated on the health certificate accompanying it, without an approved eartag, but within 6 days of the date of its importation (unless it is slaughtered without being moved from the holding of destination within that time), or before it is moved from the holding of destination if sooner, the keeper on the holding of destination shall identify the animal by attaching a green approved eartag to its right ear.

Receipt and identification of animals from England, Scotland, Wales or a member State

13.—(1) A person shall not receive an animal from a member State unless it is identified in accordance with—

(a) the Council Regulation, in the case of an animal born on or after 9th July 2005; or

(b) Council Directive 92/102/EEC on the identification and registration of animals(1) in the case of an animal born on or before 8th July 2005.

(2) A person shall not receive an animal from England, Scotland or Wales unless it is identified in accordance with paragraph (1) (a) or (b) and accompanied by a movement document in accordance with the Council Regulation and any provisions which give effect to the Council Regulation in England, Scotland or Wales.

(3) Where an animal is imported into Northern Ireland from England, Scotland, Wales or a member State and moved onto a holding, other than a slaughterhouse, the keeper shall not remove or replace any eartag attached to the animal at the time of importation and shall, within 6 days of movement onto the holding, identify the animal by attaching a green approved eartag to the animal’s right ear.

Removal of identification

14.—(1) A person shall not—

(a) tamper with, remove or deface, or cause or permit to be tampered with, removed or defaced any approved eartag;

(b) deface or obliterate, or cause or permit to be defaced or obliterated any tattoo;

(c) remove or tamper with, or cause or permit to be removed or tampered with, any electronic transponder;

(d) alter, or cause or permit to be altered, any information contained on any eartag, tattoo or electronic transponder attached to an animal under—

(i) the Council Regulation;

(ii) this Order or any provisions which give effect to the Council Regulation in England, Scotland or Wales;

(iii) the previous Orders; or

(iv) Council Directive 92/102/EEC (in the case of an animal marked in another member State in accordance with that Directive).

(2) A person shall not alter, remove, obliterate or deface the original identification applied to an animal originating in a member State in contravention of Article 4(5) of the Council Regulation.

(3) A person shall not—

(a) transfer an approved eartag from an animal or a carcase to any other animal;

(b) use for identifying any animal an approved eartag which has at any time been used to identify any other animal;

(c) remove an approved eartag except in accordance with the permission of the Department;

(d) replace an approved eartag other than in accordance with this Order;

(e) have in his possession an approved eartag which bears an individual animal identification number already allocated to an animal on his holding or any other holding except a replacement approved eartag specifically authorised by the Department;

(f) have in his possession an animal bearing an eartag which is not an approved eartag, but which resembles an approved eartag in terms of shape, size or colour;

(g) have in his possession without lawful excuse, an approved eartag bearing an individual animal identification number other than that issued to him in accordance with the provisions of this Order.

(4) For the purposes of this Article any reference to an “approved eartag” includes any other means of identification attached to an animal under the Council Regulation or previous Orders.

(5) A keeper shall comply with Article 4(6) (first paragraph) of the Council Regulation.

(1)

O.J. No. L 355, 05.12.92, p. 32