The Sheep and Goats Identification (Scotland) Regulations 2000

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make provisions for records concerning sheep and goats and for the marking of sheep and goats. They implement the provisions relating to sheep and goats of Council Directive 92/102/EEC (O.J. No. L 355, p.32, 5.12.1992) on the identification and registration of animals.

The Regulations require a person, who keeps sheep and goats and who has not given notification before, to notify the Scottish Ministers, and the Scottish Ministers allocate to keepers a flockmark in case of sheep and a herdmark in case of goats (regulation 3).

The Regulations require anyone keeping sheep or goats to keep movement records. Sheepmeat producers who are granted premium under Council Regulation 3493/90/EEC laying down general rules for the grant of premium to sheepmeat and goatmeat producers (O.J. No. L 337, 4.12.90, p.7) are required to keep additional records relating to specified events (regulations 4 to 6).

The Regulations make provision for marking sheep and goats either by an eartag or by a tattoo. Subject to certain exceptions and transitional provisions, marking is required for all sheep and goats born or first moved off the holding of birth after the coming into force of the Regulations, and for all sheep and goats imported into Scotland from outside the European Union (regulations 7 and 8).

The Regulations prohibit bringing sheep or goats into Scotland from another Member State or from another part of the British Islands, unless they are marked in accordance with the legislation in force in those places (regulations 9 and 10).

The Regulations require marking sheep and goats when they are consigned to a destination outside Great Britain (regulation 11).

They provide for marking sheep or goats with a temporary mark when moved to a destination within Great Britain and provide for documentation to be carried during such movements, both subject to certain exceptions (regulations 12 and 13).

The Regulations contain detailed rules about eartags and tattoos and make provision for replacement and removal of eartags and tattoos, the alteration of eartags and tattoos, and the application of additional eartags and tattoos (regulations 14-17).

The Regulations deal with powers of inspectors, offences, penalties and prosecution (regulations 18-22).

They amend the Sheep Annual Premium Regulations 1992, S.I. 1992/2677 (regulation 23).

They revoke the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 1996, (S.I. 1996/28) but save the provisions requiring the retention of records kept in accordance with that Order and make transitional provision (regulation 24).

A regulatory impact assessment has been prepared and placed in the Information Office of the Scottish Parliament. Copies can be obtained from Rural Affairs Department, Pentland House, 47 Robbss Loan, Edinburgh EH14 1TY.