These Regulations amend the Sheep and Goats (Identification and Traceability) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (“the principal Regulations”) to make provision for the administration and enforcement of Council Regulation (EC) No. 21/2004 (establishing a system for the identification and registration of ovine and caprine animals and amending Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003 and Directives 92/102/EEC and 64/432/EEC) (“the Council Regulation”).

These Regulations also amend the principal Regulations by removing the provisions for the national system of identification and tracing approved by the European Commission which replaced the system for a second means of identification as required under the Council Regulation.

Regulation 3 amends the principal Regulations by substituting new definitions.

Regulation 4 substitutes new provisions in relation to the application of identification.

Regulation 5 substitutes new provisions in relation to the removal and replacement of identification.

Regulation 6 adds new provisions in relation to holding registers.

Regulation 7 amends the provision stating that the operator of a market is not responsible for replacement identification.

Regulation 8 amends the provision in relation to replacement eartags.

A Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared in respect of these Regulations and has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. Copies can be obtained from the Scottish Government Rural Directorate, Pentland House, Robb’s Loan, Edinburgh EH14 1TY.