News

Members are reminded of the requirements for tagging sheep with electronic identification devices (eIDs or eID tags).

In September 2022, federal and state agricultural ministers agreed to implement a mandatory eID system to enhance biosecurity and export trade within the Australian livestock industry.

Requirements for WA Producers:

• From 1 January 2025:
  • Any sheep born from this date onward must be eID tagged by six months of age or before leaving their property of birth, whichever occurs first.
  • Sheep born before this date do not require eID tagging unless they leave the property from 1 July 2026 onwards.
• From 1 July 2026:
  • Visual tags will no longer be permissible.
  • All sheep, regardless of age, must have an eID before leaving the property.

Additional Key Points:

• Year-of-birth coloured eID tags remain mandatory in WA.
• Each animal should have only one eID at any time.
• If an animal not born on your property loses its original year-of-birth coloured eID or if it stops working, the new owner must apply a pink post-breeder eID tag in the opposite ear to that of the year of birth coloured tag.
• Yellow eID tags can be applied to all stock bred on-property prior to 1 January 2025 when they leave the property of origin after 1 July 2026.
• DPIRD has announced that there will be no general exemptions to specific animals or types of movement will be granted after 1 July 2026.
• Only accredited NLIS devices can be used, and these tags must have the NLIS printed on them.

For further details, please refer to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).