The keeper of the animals shall, at all times, be in possession of the two ear tags approved by the competent authority in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 (‘the approved ear tags’).

By way of derogation from Article 4(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000, where the animals are moved to the premises, the approved ear tags may be removed from the animals without permission of the competent authority but under its the control, provided that, at the latest when the approved ear tags are removed, the animals are marked by the means of identification chosen by the competent authority as provided for in Article 3(1) of this Regulation.

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph of Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000, where the animals are born on the premises, it shall not be compulsory to apply the approved ear tags to them, provided that, at the latest when the animals are 20 days old, they are marked by the means of identification chosen by the competent authority as provided for in Article 3(1) of this Regulation.

Before the animals leave the premises the approved ear tags shall be applied to the animals.

However, if the animals are moved directly to other premises referred to in Article 1 F1in the United Kingdom, it is sufficient for the approved ear tags to accompany the animals during the movement.