PART 3Removal and replacement of identification
Removal and replacement of means of identification
12.—(1) No person shall remove, unless for the purpose of preventing unnecessary pain or suffering to an animal, or replace, any means of identification attached to an animal otherwise than in accordance with Article 4(6) of the Council Regulation.
(2) Subject to regulation 22(1), any identification which has been removed or lost or become illegible shall be replaced as soon as possible and, in any event, before the animal leaves the holding on which the replacement identification is to be applied.
Replacement eartags
13.—(1) Subject to regulations 14(1), 16(1) and 22(1), where the individual identification code of an eartag or tattoo which has been removed or lost or become illegible is known, the keeper, other than a slaughterhouse operator, shall apply to the animal a replacement eartag bearing that individual identification code.
(2) Where the individual identification code of an eartag or tattoo which has been removed or lost or become illegible is not known and–
(a)the animal is on its holding of birth, the keeper shall apply to the animal a baseline UK eartag;
(b)in the case of an animal imported from a third country, the animal is on its holding of import, the keeper shall apply to the animal a baseline F eartag;
(c)the animal is on a holding other than its holding of birth or, in the case of an animal imported from a third country, its holding of import, the keeper shall apply a red replacement eartag bearing an individual identification code with the following information in the following order (an “R eartag”):–
(i)the letters “UK”;
(ii)the flockmark or herdmark of the holding from which an animal is being moved;
(iii)a unique number; and
(iv)the letter “R”.
Replacement tattoos
14.—(1) Regulation 13 shall not apply where a replacement tattoo is applied to the animal in accordance with paragraph (2) or (3).
(2) Where the identification code of a tattoo which has been lost or become illegible is known the keeper may apply to the animal a replacement tattoo bearing that identification code.
(3) Where the identification code of a tattoo which has been lost or become illegible is not known and–
(a)the animal is on its holding of birth, the keeper may apply to the animal a replacement tattoo bearing an individual identification code with the following information in the following order:–
(i)the flockmark or herdmark of the holding of birth; and
(ii)a number of not more than 6 digits which is unique to the animal to which it is applied (and which has been created by the keeper of the holding at which it is applied);
(b)the animal is on a holding other than its holding of birth, the keeper may apply a tattoo with an individual identification code with the following information in the following order (an “R tattoo”):–
(i)the flockmark or herdmark of the holding the animal is on when the tattoo is applied;
(ii)a number of not more than 6 digits which is unique to the animal to which it is applied (and which has been created by the keeper of the holding at which it is applied); and
(iii)the letter “R”.
Animals involved in intra Community trade
15. No animal bearing an R eartag, R tattoo or an eartag or tattoo with the letter “R” applied under the Council Regulation, these Regulations, any provision giving effect to the Council Regulation in England, Wales or Northern Ireland or previous United Kingdom Orders or Regulations shall be consigned for intra Community trade.
Replacement of movement eartags
16.—(1) Regulation 13 shall not apply to the replacement of movement eartags.
(2) Where the identification code of a movement eartag has been removed or lost or become illegible and the identification code of that eartag is known, the keeper, unless that keeper is a slaughterhouse operator, shall apply to the animal a replacement movement eartag bearing the same identification code as the eartag it is replacing.