The Cattle Identification (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2017

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Cattle Identification (Scotland) Regulations 2007 (“the principal Regulations”) consequent to amendments made by Regulation (EU) No 653/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 as regards electronic identification of bovine animals and labelling of beef.

These Regulations also adjust requirements placed on keepers in the principal Regulations relating to the ear tagging of bovine animals, and the passports of bovine animals when they are moved, in situations where keepers regularly use a holding in addition to their principal holding.

Regulation 3(a) inserts a definition of “additional holding”, being a holding other than a principal holding that is regularly used by a keeper of bovine animals for holding, keeping or handling animals, where the use of such a holding has been notified to the Scottish Ministers.

Regulation 3(b) substitutes the definition of “Regulation (EC) No. 1760/2000” in regulation 2(1) of the principal Regulations.

Regulations 4, 5, 6 and 7 amend references in the principal Regulations to Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000.

Regulation 6(c) places a requirement on a keeper of bovine animals to tag the ear of such an animal born on an additional holding.

Regulation 6(e) provides that bovine animals arriving from third countries must be tagged either within 20 days of the completion of veterinary checks, or before they leave the holding of destination, whichever is sooner.

Regulation 8 removes—

• the requirement to amend a cattle passport and transfer an identification document when moving a bovine animal between a principal holding and an additional holding;

• the requirement to ensure an identification document accompanies a bovine animal between such holdings; and

• the requirement to pass the identification document to the keeper at the destination, when moving bovine animals between such holdings; and

Regulation 8 also requires the keeper of a holding on which a bovine animal arrives, to complete the required details in the cattle passport within 48 hours of the arrival of that animal.

Regulation 9 restricts the requirement to include the identification code of a dam on the register, to situations in which the animal is born on that holding. It also changes the requirement placed on keepers in the principal Regulations by requiring that a register must record a bovine animal movement within 48 hours of that movement, and a change of ear tag identification code within 48 hours of its application.

No business and regulatory impact assessment has been prepared for these Regulations as no impact upon business, charities or voluntary bodies is foreseen.