Ear tags and tattoos
7.—(1) An ear tag shall be—
(a)easy to read during the pig’s lifetime;
(b)made of either metal or plastic or a combination of metal and plastic;
(c)tamper-resistant;
(d)incapable of re-use;
(e)designed to remain attached to the pig without harming it;
(f)printed with the keeper’s holding code.
(2) A person shall not sell or supply an ear tag except in accordance with the conditions of a licence issued by the Department.
(3) A tattoo shall be applied either by tattoo forceps, in which case it shall be on an ear, or by slap-marking equipment in which case it shall be on the shoulder.
(4) As an alternative to applying a tattoo by methods referred to in paragraph (3) a keeper may apply a tattoo to a shoulder of a pig by means of equipment which uses compressed air to drive the tattooing pins into the skin of the pig.
(5) A tattoo shall be easy to read during the pig’s lifetime.
(6) A tattoo shall bear a holding code or in the case of a pig being moved direct to slaughter, a tattoo may bear a holding code or curer mark.