The Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009

PART II Identification devices

Approval of identification devices

5.—(1) An identification device used to comply with this Order must be of a model and colour approved by the Department.

(2) A person shall not sell or supply an identification device except in accordance with the conditions of an authorisation issued by the Department.

(3) A person shall not sell or supply to a keeper of animals an identification device with a herd or flock number unless that number has been allocated to the keeper under Article 3(3) or in accordance with Article 12 and 15.

Additional tags and identification devices with additional information

6.—(1) Subject to the following provisions, a person shall only include on an identification device any information which is—

(a) required or authorised by this Order; or

(b) authorised by the Department,

and shall not sell or supply to another any such device which does not comply with this paragraph.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1), a person may include on an identification device information prohibited by that paragraph or sell or supply an identification device with such information were—

(a) the information is distinct from the identification code on the device; and

(b) the identification code remains legible and clearly distinguishable at all times.

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

Colour of identification devices

7.—(1) A person shall not attach a red identification device to any animal, other than a replacement identification device.

(2) Where a keeper re-identifies an animal with a new identification device and that animal is not on its holding of birth, or the keeper does not know the holding of birth, he must use a red replacement identification device but the requirement to use a red identification device does not apply to the use of boluses or where the keeper provides the information required by Section B of the Council Regulation in accordance with Article 18.

(3) Where an animal is identified by means of a bolus and a matching identification device, the matching identification device must be light blue and a light blue identification device may only be used in combination with a bolus.

(4) The characters on all identification devices must be a different colour to the background of the device and must be clearly legible at all times when the device attached to the animal.

Destruction of identification devices

8.—(1) The operator of a slaughterhouse, a processing plant, a collection centre, an incineration plant or any other person who finally disposes of an animal carcase must destroy, in a secure manner which prevents reuse all identification devices on animals or carcases entering his premises.

(2) Where it is not practicable to remove an identification device from an animal or carcase, the operator or other person shall ensure that the device is disposed of, along with the carcase, at a processing plant or incineration plant.

(3) Secure destruction includes the processing in a processing plant or incineration in an incineration plant of any identification device.

(4) In this Article “collection centre” means a collection centre to which regulation 27 of the Animal By-Products Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 applies.