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

Identification of animals intended for slaughter

10.—(1) For animals intended for slaughter before the age of 12 months and not intended for export, the identification method in Section A.7 of the Annex to the Council Regulation is authorised.

(2) The identification code for the purposes of Section A.7 of the Annex to the Council Regulation must be the letters “UK” followed by the flockmark or herdmark; no other number issued by the competent authority may be visibly recorded on this eartag.

(3) Where it is intended to slaughter after the age of 12 months or to export an animal identified under paragraph (1) that animal must be identified in accordance with article 9 and the original eartag removed.

(4) A keeper may re-identify under article 9 an animal identified under this article and need not slaughter that animal before the age of 12 months only if—

(a) the animal is on its holding of birth;

(b) the animal has moved to its present holding directly from its holding of birth or from its holding of birth via a market and its tag contains a unique electronic identifier; or

(c) the keeper has a complete record of all the animal’s movements.

(5) Where an animal is re-identified under paragraph (4)(b) and its tag contains a unique electronic identifier that unique identifier must be cross-referenced to the new identification code in the holding register.

(6) A keeper may re-identify an animal identified under paragraph (1) by using an eartag of the kind described in paragraph (2) which includes an electronic identifier but may not then re-identify that animal according to article 9 unless the animal is still on its holding of birth.

(7) Where an animal is re-identified under this article and it is no longer on its holding of birth the keeper must cross-reference the old and new identification codes in the holding register.