The Animals (Identification, Records, Movement and Enforcement) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

Amendments to the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009 N.I.

6.—(1) The Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009(1) is amended as follows.

(2) In Article 2(1)—

(a) in the definition of “animal”, after “species”, add “including the offspring of crossings of those species”;

(b) for the definition of “assembly centre”, substitute—

““assembly centre” means holdings approved by the Department for the assembly of animals from more than one holding which are—

(i)

intended to form consignments for trade; and

(ii)

kept for a period shorter than the required residency period of the animal concerned as set out in the Council Regulation;”;

(c) in the definition of “central point of recording”, omit “under Section C.2 of the Annex to the Council Regulation ”;

(d) in the definition of “centralised computer database”, for “Article 8 of the Council Regulation”, substitute “Articles 109(1)(b) and 113(1)(c) of the Council Regulation and Article 49 of the Commission Regulation”;

(e) after the definition of “collection centre”, insert—

““Commission Implementing Regulation” means Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/520 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 with regards to the traceability of certain kept terrestrial animals;

“Commission Regulation” means Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 as regards rules for establishments keeping terrestrial animals and hatcheries, and the traceability of certain kept terrestrial animals and hatching eggs;”;

(f) for the definition of “Council Regulation”, substitute—

““Council Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2016/429 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’);”;

(g) for the definition of “holding”, substitute—

““holding” means any establishment or structure or in the case of free range farming, any environment in which animals are held, reared or handled on a permanent or temporary basis, except veterinary practices or clinics;”;

(h) for the definition of “holding register”, substitute—

““holding register” means a register containing the records required by Article 102(1) of the Council Regulation;”;

(i) for the definition of “keeper”, substitute—

““keeper” means any person responsible for animals, whether on a permanent or on a temporary basis, including during transportation or at a market but excluding veterinary practices;”; and

(j) for the definition of “movement document”, substitute—

““movement document” means the movement document required by Articles 113(1)(b) of the Council Regulation and in a format approved by the Department;”.

(3) Omit Article 3(5).

(4) In Article 4(1), for “or the Council Regulation”, substitute “, the Council Regulation, the Commission Regulation or the Commission Implementing Regulation”.

(5) In Article 6(3), for “UK”, substitute ““XI”, the numbers “899””.

(6) In Article 7(2), for “Section B of the Annex to the Council Regulation”, substitute “Article 102 of the Council Regulation and Articles 22, 23(1) (2) and (4) of the Commission Regulation”.

(7) In Article 8(4), for “regulation 27 of the Animal By-Products Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003”, substitute “regulation 8 of the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015”.

(8) For the title of Part III and the heading of Article 9 substitute “Identification of animals”.

(9) In Article 9—

(a) omit paragraph (1);

(b) in paragraph (2), for “Article 4(1) (first paragraph), Article 4(2)(a) and (b) and Article 9(3) of the Council Regulation”, substitute “Article 14 and Annex II to the Commission Implementing Regulation”;

(c) in paragraph (3), omit “referred to in the Annex to the Council Regulation, but is to say”;

(d) in paragraph (4), for “Article 4(1) of the Council Regulation”, substitute “Article 14 of the Commission Implementing Regulation”;

(e) for paragraph (5), substitute—

“(5) The identification code on the means of identification for the purposes of Article 12 of Commission Implementing Regulation must be—

(a) the letters “XI” or, the numbers “899”; and

(b) a 12 digit number prescribed by the Department;

and must be identical on the first and second means of identification.”.

(10) For Article 10, substitute—

“(10) A keeper of animals intended to be moved directly to a slaughterhouse before the age of 12 months shall ensure that each such animal is identified in accordance with Article 45(1) of the Commission Regulation and regulation 9.”.

(11) In Article 11(1), for “Article 4(6) (first paragraph) of the Council Regulation” substitute “Article 45(3)(b) of the Commission Regulation”.

(12) In Article 12(3), for “Section B of the Annex to the Council Regulation”, substitute “Article 102 of the Council Regulation and Articles 22, 23(1), (2) and (4) of the Commission Regulation”.

(13) For the title of Part IV, substitute “Goats not identified under Part III”.

(14) For Article 13, substitute—

“13.— (1) Where a goat is on its holding of birth and has not been identified in accordance with Part III, the keeper must identify it within the time limits specified in Article 9(4) with either-

(a) two eartags; or

(b) an eartag and a pastern tag.

(2) The identification code on such a means of identification must, in accordance with Article 12 of the Commission Implementing Regulation, be—

(a) the letters “XI” or “899”; and

(b) a 12 digit number prescribed by the Department;

and must be identical on the first and second means of identification.”.

(15) Omit Part V.

(16) In Article 17—

(a) in paragraph (1), for “Article 5(1), (3) and (5) of the Council Regulation”, substitute “Article 102(1)(a) and (b) of the Council Regulation and the last sentence of that Article and Article 23(1)(a), (b) and (d), (2) and (4) of the Commission Regulation”;

(b) in paragraph (2)(a), for “Section B of the Annex to the Council Regulation”, substitute “Articles 22 and 23(1)(a) and (d) and (4) of the Commission Regulation”;

(c) in paragraph (4), for “Article 5(1) of the Council Regulation”, substitute “Article 102 of the Council Regulation and Article 23(1)(a), (b) and (d), (2) and (4) of the Commission Regulation”; and

(d) in paragraph (6), for “Article 5(3) of the Council Regulation” substitute “Article 102(3) of the Council Regulation”.

(17) In Article 18—

(a) for “Article 5(4) of the Council Regulation” substitute “Article 102(4) of the Council Regulation”; and

(b) in paragraph (b), for “Section B of the Annex to the Council Regulation”, substitute “Article 102(1)(a) and (b) of the Council Regulation and Article 23(1)(a), (b) and (d), (2) and (4) of the Commission Regulation”.

(18) In Article 19(1), for “Article 7(2) of the Council Regulation”, substitute “Article 101 of the Council Regulation”.

(19) In Article 20—

(a) in paragraph (1)—

(i) for “Article 6(1) of the Council Regulation”, substitute “Article 113(1)(b) of the Council Regulation”; and

(ii) for “Section C of the Annex to the Council Regulation”, substitute “Article 50 of the Commission Regulation”;

(b) in paragraph (4), for “Article 6(3) of the Council Regulation”, substitute “Article 102(3) of the Council Regulation”;

(c) in paragraph (5), for “Article 6(3)”, substitute “Article 102(3) of the Council Regulation”.

(20) In Article 22(1), for “Article 6(4) of the Council Regulation”, substitute “Article 113(2) of the Council Regulation”.

(21) In Article 25, for “Section C, point 2 of the Annex to the Council Regulation”, substitute “Article 51(b) of the Commission Regulation”.

(22) In Article 27—

(a) for paragraph (1), substitute—

“(1) A person shall not receive an animal from a member State unless it is identified in accordance with the Council Regulation.”; and

(b) in paragraph (2), for “Article 4(5) of the Council Regulation”, substitute “Article 18 of the Commission Implementing Regulation, unless authorised to do so by the Department”.

(23) In Article 29—

(a) in paragraph (1), for “Article 4(4) of the Council Regulation”, substitute “Article 81 of the Commission Regulation”;

(b) for paragraph (2), substitute—

“(2) In accordance with Article 17(1) of the Commission Implementing Regulation, the period for identifying an animal for the purposes of Article 81 of the Commission Regulation is 20 days.”; and

(c) for paragraph (3) substitute —

“(3) The means of identification for animals imported from a third country must be the same as that set out in Article 45 of the Commission Regulation and, in accordance with Article 12 of the Commission Implementing Regulation, the identification code is—

(a) the letters “XI” or the numbers “899”;

(b) a 12 digit number in accordance with a numbering scheme prescribed by the Department.”.

(24) In Article 30, for “Article 4(4) of the Council Regulation”, substitute “Article 81 of the Commission Regulation”.

(25) In Article 31(1), for “Article 4(2)(a) and (b) and Article 9(3) of the Council Regulation” substitute “Articles 9 and 13 of this Order”.

(26) Omit Article 31(2).

(27) In Article 36—

(a) in paragraph (1)(b), for “Council Regulation in England, Scotland or Wales;”, substitute “identification of animals of the ovine or caprine species in England, Scotland or Wales; or”;

(b) in paragraph (1)(c), omit “or”; and

(c) omit paragraph (1)(d).

(28) For Article 37 substitute—

“(37) Any animal consigned for export to Great Britain or the Republic of Ireland shall be accompanied by a movement document and shall be identified in accordance with Article 9 in the case of a sheep and, in the case of a goat, Article 9 or Article 13.”.

(29) In Article 38, in paragraphs (c) and (d), for “Section C.1 of the Annex to the Council Regulation” in both places it occurs, substitute “Article 50 of the Commission Regulation”.

(30) In Article 39(c), for “Section C.1 of the Annex to the Council Regulation” substitute “Article 50 of the Commission Regulation”.

(31) For Article 40 substitute—

Transitional Provisions

40.— (1) In accordance with Article 20 of the Commission Implementing Regulation, a keeper may continue to identify animals born before 21 April 2023 using the identification code prescribed by the Department at that time.

(2) In this Order, any reference to an identification device includes an identification device which uses the identification code authorised under this Article.

(3) Any animal identified in accordance with paragraph (1) shall, for the purposes of the requirements of this Order, be considered to have been identified in accordance with the Council Regulation, Commission Regulation and Commission Implementing Regulation.

(4) Nothing in this Order shall prevent a person from applying an additional tag to an animal identified in accordance with paragraph (1) provided that the tag does not contain the letters “UK” or bear a flock number or herd number unless authorised by the Department.”.

Commencement Information

I1 Reg. 6 in operation at 24.1.2025, see reg. 1(1)

(1)

S.R 2009 No. 411, to which relevant amendments have been made by S.R. 2019 No. 82, S.I. 2019/157 and S.R. 2020 No. 353.