The Sheep and Goats Identification (Wales) Regulations 2000

Marking animals born in Wales

7.—(1) Subject to the remaining provisions of this regulation, the keeper of any sheep or goat born in Wales on or after the relevant date, or which is still on its holding of birth on that date, shall mark it as soon as possible, and in any case before it is moved from the holding of birth, with an eartag or tattoo consisting of —

(a) in the case of an eartag, the letters “UK” followed by the flockmark or herdmark of the holding of birth; or

(b) in the case of a tattoo, the flockmark or herdmark of the holding of birth.

(2) In any case relating to the movement off a holding of sheep or goats which have not been marked in accordance with this regulation, it shall be a defence in any proceedings under this regulation for the person moving the animals to prove that the animals —

(a) in the case of goats, were moved from the holding of birth to premises for the purpose of being tattooed; or

(b) in the case of sheep or goats (or both), were moved from the holding of birth to premises for the purpose of receiving veterinary treatment; and

(c) in each case, were returned to their holding of birth as soon as they had been tattooed or had received the veterinary treatment (as the case may be).

(3) An eartag or tattoo may include information additional to that required under this regulation.

(4) Paragraph (1) above shall not apply in relation to sheep or goats which before the relevant date were marked with an eartag or tattoo indicating the flockmark or herdmark of birth, or were marked with an eartag bearing a breed society mark registered pursuant to paragraph (6) below, and which were on the holding of birth at that relevant date.

(5) For a period of one year commencing with the relevant date –

(a) a keeper may mark animals with a tag which bears the flockmark or herdmark of the holding without the prefix “UK”;

(b) a keeper may mark animals with a tag which does not bear the flockmark or herdmark provided that the tag bears a breed society mark which has been registered pursuant to paragraph (6) below.

(6) The National Assembly shall maintain a register of marks issued by breed societies and shall enter in such register any mark which a breed society applies to it to be registered under this paragraph.