Questions and answers relating to the changes to identification tag codes - updated 22 August 2024
- Question – Why do tags have to change?
Answer – It is a legal requirement under the European Union Animal Health Law (AHL) (Regulation (EU) 2016/429), which applies in Northern Ireland (NI), that the prefix code on NI livestock identification tags should be 'XI'.
The introduction of ‘XI’, will therefore ensure that DAERA is in compliance with its legal obligations, and will allow for continued unfettered access to both the EU and UK domestic markets, subject to existing export eligibility requirements. The introduction of ‘XI’ will also ensure the continued operation of a legally compliant traceability system, which is the fundamental cornerstone of the Northern Ireland agri-food industry and essential to the protection of trade, public health, animal health and welfare.- Question - What has changed?
Answer - On 24 June 2024, the prefix code on Northern Ireland (NI) livestock identification tags (cattle, sheep and goats) changed from ‘UK’ to ‘XI’, and only new ‘XI’ tags have been available to purchase from then.
- Question – Why is the digit after the UK prefix on cattle tags also changing?
Answer - To facilitate the possible introduction of bovine electronic identification (EID) in the future, there will be a minor change to the numbering format on cattle tags. The digit 0 will replace the digit 9 in front of the herd number on cattle tags.
- Question – What action do keepers need to take?
Answer – The major farm software providers have been advised of and are prepared for the changes. Keepers who manage their herd or flock using farm software packages should confirm with their provider that their software is compatible with livestock ID tags in the new format, including sheep EID tags programmed with the digits 899.
- Question – When is the final switchover date to use of 'XI' tags only?
Answer – The final switchover date will come at the end of the transition period, which will be 30th June 2025. From this date it will be a mandatory requirement to identify all newborn livestock with ‘XI’ tags.
Answer – Following introduction of the new ‘XI’ tags on 24 June 2024, there is now a transition period before the use of 'XI' becomes mandatory on Monday 30 June 2025, and during this period it will be possible for keepers to tag newborn animals with either old stocks of 'UK' tags, or the new 'XI' tags.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), however, recommends that 'XI' prefixed tags are applied to newborn animals, particularly if it is likely that the animals will be exported to continental Europe in the future.
- Question – Can keepers use up stocks of 'UK' tags?
Answer – During the transition period it is permissible to tag and register newborn animals with either the keeper's existing stock of ‘UK’ prefix tags or the new ‘XI’ prefix tags. DAERA, however, recommends that 'XI' prefixed tags are applied to newborn animals, particularly if it is likely that the animals will be exported to continental Europe in the future.
It will be a mandatory requirement to tag all newborn cattle, sheep and goats with new ‘XI’ prefixed tags from the switchover date of Monday 30th June 2025.
- Question – What will the new tags look like for cattle?
Answer – Physically tags will look the same as before. All new cattle tags issued in NI now begin with ‘XI’ 0, replacing ‘UK’ 9, while the remaining numbers on tags will be unchanged. After the ‘XI’ 0 prefix, all numbers will be as currently formatted, which are:
- Natal 6-digit herd number;
- 4-digit individual animal number; and
- A check digit*
Tags will carry on in sequence from the last number issued to your herd prior to changeover. For example:
If the last UK 9 tag issued to you was:
UK 9 123456 1234 5*
The next newly issued tag will be:
XI 0 123456 1235 6* (*Check digit changes and will depend on formula)
- Question – What will the new tags look like for sheep?
Answer – As with cattle, physically tags will look the same as before. All new sheep tags begin with ‘XI’ replacing ‘UK’, while the remaining numbers on tags will be unchanged. After the ‘XI’ prefix, all numbers will be as currently formatted, which are:
- The digit 1
- The 6-digit natal flock number
- The 5-digit individual animal ID
Tags will carry on in sequence from the last number issued to your herd prior to changeover.
If the last UK 1 tag issued to you was:
UK 1701234 56789 (EID 826 1701234 56789)
The next newly issued tag will be:
XI 1701234 56790 (EID 899 1701234 56790)
- Question – What will the new tags look like for goats?
Answer – As with cattle and sheep, physically tags will look the same as before. All new goat tags will begin with ‘XI’ replacing the ‘UK’, while the remaining numbers on tags will be unchanged. After the ‘XI’ prefix, all numbers will be as currently formatted, which are:
- The digit 1
- The 6-digit natal flock number
- The 5-digit individual animal ID
Tags will carry on in sequence from the last number issued to your herd prior to changeover.
If the last UK 1 tag issued to you was:
UK 1701234 56791 (EID 826 1701234 56791)
The next newly issued tag will be:
XI 1701234 56792 (EID 899 1701234 56792)
- Question – What about EID tags on sheep and goats?
Answer – No issues have been identified as a result of changing to the ‘XI’ prefix for EID tags on sheep and goats. ‘899’, the 3-digit numerical equivalent of ‘XI’ for NI livestock ID purposes, is encoded on EID devices in the same way ‘826’ is currently encoded as the equivalent to ‘UK’. However, keepers who read sheep tags using an EID reader and upload the tag numbers to a farm software package should confirm with their providers that their software is compatible with the new prefix.
- Question – Will the requirements for Sheep CPRs change?
Answer – Central Points of Recording (CPRs) such as marts, abattoirs and Export Assembly Centres (EACs) have made the necessary changes to their systems to accommodate the new ‘XI’ prefix. CPRs read sheep and goat tag numbers and upload movement notifications to APHIS electronically. CPR software translates ‘826’ on sheep and goats EID tags to ‘UK’ before uploading movement notifications to the Animal and Public Health Information System database (APHIS). CPR operators have amended their software to ensure that their software also recognises ‘899’ when reading sheep and goat EID tags in the new format and translates this to ‘XI’ before upload.
Depending on when tags were issued, there will be livestock in circulation for the foreseeable future identified either with ‘UK’ or ‘XI’ prefix codes and both will be accepted as forms of identification, valid at the time of application. Sheep and goats could be presented at CPRs with ‘XI/899’ tags, as well as animals tagged with old ‘UK/826’ tags, so software is able to read and translate both.
- Question - Do farmers need to apply the new ‘XI’ tag to all their existing herd/flock?
Answer – No, there is no requirement to re-identify all livestock previously identified with ‘UK’ prefixed tags.
However, if you plan to export animals to continental Europe, these tags should be replaced with 'XI' tags prior to export to prevent the animals’ ID numbers being deemed ineligible. See Q. 15 to 17.
If re-identifying cattle with 'XI' tags this must be done under DAERA or OV/OVI supervision and correlated on NIFAIS prior to export.
If re-identifying sheep with 'XI' tags prior to export, this can be done by the keeper themselves and correlated in the flock register.
If you wish to export livestock to continental Europe, and there is any reason you believe makes it not possible to re-identify your animal, such as pedigree registration, contact the DAERA Trade Export team via email: daeratradeexports@daera-ni.gov.uk for further advice.
- Question - Do farmers need to apply a new ‘XI’ tag to animals when replacing an original ‘UK’ tag which has been lost or damaged?
Answer – If an animal was tagged at birth with a double set of ‘UK’ 9 prefix tags (cattle), and loses a tag in one ear, the keeper should order a replacement tag as normal from their tag supplier. The replacement tag will be exactly the same as the original tag, even if ordered after the switchover to the new ‘XI’ code.
For example, if an animal was identified at birth on 01/03/2023 with tag number UK 9 123456 1234 5, and the keeper notices one tag missing and orders a replacement on 01/11/2024, the replacement tag will also read
UK 9 123456 1234 5.- Question - What happens if an animal needs to be re-identified?Answer – There are no plans to require the re-identification of all animals previously identified with ‘UK' prefix tags, with new ‘XI’ tags. However, re-identification is recommended for animals being exported to continental Europe, 'UK' tags should be replaced with 'XI' tags to reduce the risk of the animals being deemed ineligible by the recipient Member State - see Q. 13.
If an animal has to be re-identified for any reason:
- From 24th June 2024 until 29th June 2025, it can be re-identified using a Northern Ireland issued 'UK' or 'XI' tag; or
- After the switch over date on Monday 30th June 2025, it can only be re-identified using the new 'XI' format.
Note: from week commencing 24th June 2024, only 'XI' tags can be purchased from tag suppliers, but livestock keepers may use existing stocks of 'UK' tags they hold until 29th June 2025.
Therefore, if a bovine animal has lost both sets of original 'UK' tags, or it is a GB import, it will be identified with an entirely new number, as happens currently, it may or may not be possible to correlate with its old 'UK' 9 number.
For example:
A bovine animal was tagged at birth on 01/03/2023 with tag number: UK 9 123456 1234 5, and it is discovered on 01/07/2025 to have lost both its ear tags, it will be issued with new tags in the format: XI 0 123456 1987 6.
- Question – What is required to export animals to the European Union (EU)?
Answer – EU Animal Health Law requires the use of 'XI' tags as the official identifiers. Therefore, any animals identified with 'UK' tags that are being exported to continental Europe, should have them replaced with new 'XI' tags prior to export (see Q. 13 for further details). This will prevent the animals’ ID numbers being deemed ineligible.
DAERA recommends that 'XI' prefixed tags are applied to newborn animals, particularly if it is likely that the animals will be exported in the future.
If you have questions regarding exporting animals to Europe, information can be found on the DAERA Exports webpage found here.
For further questions please contact the DAERA Trade Export team via email: daeratradeexports@daera-ni.gov.uk
- Question – What is required to move animals to Ireland?
Answer – Livestock being exported to Ireland can be identified with either ‘UK’ or ‘XI’ prefixed tags until 29 June 2025. Exporters to Ireland are advised that from 30 June 2025, all sheep must be identified with the new 'XI' tags prior to their export. Any such sheep previously tagged with 'UK' tags must be re-identified with ‘XI’ tags. However, cattle identified with ‘UK’ tags prior to 30 June 2025 can still be exported to Ireland after this date without being re-identified with XI tags.
- Question – What is required to move animals to Great Britain (GB)?
Answer – Livestock to be moved from NI to GB, must be officially tagged with either ‘UK’ or ‘XI’ prefixed tags. DAERA consider such animals to have full traceable IDs for domestic movement purposes.
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Question – Will NI livestock still be classified as United Kingdom (UK) origin?
Answer - There will be no change to the status of NI livestock or how they are classified, as they still originate from NI as part of the UK . ‘XI’ is only a code on livestock tags to allow animals to be appropriately identified and to be traced to their holding of origin in NI.
- Question - Will farmers need to switch from the old ‘UK’ tags to new ‘XI’ tags on other species?
Answer – There are not currently any plans to switch to the ‘XI’ tags for species other than cattle, sheep and goats.
In future, it will be a requirement to identify Camelid and Cervid animals with a form of identification bearing the code ‘XI’. This is not a change to old tags, but rather a new requirement to have these animals identified as per the requirements of the AHL. - Question - What if I have animals born the day before switchover?
Answer – It will be a mandatory requirement to tag all newborn cattle, sheep and goats with ‘XI’ prefixed tags from the switchover date on 30th June 2025. Cattle born and tagged before this date may be tagged with the ‘UK’ tags and have the details logged onto the NIFAIS system before the switchover date. DAERA, however, recommends that 'XI' prefixed tags are applied to newborn animals particularly if it is likely that the animal will be exported in the future.
- Question – What about stocks of tags bearing the ‘UK’ prefix from 30 June 2025?
Answer – Where keepers have unused 'UK' prefixed cattle tags remaining at the end of the transition period on 30th June 2025, all such tags which have not been used to register a birth by that date will have their status on NIFAIS updated from ‘UNUSED’ to ‘WITHDRAWN’ and keepers will no longer be able to register births against those numbers. Therefore, stocks of unused ‘UK’ prefix tags held by livestock keepers will become obsolete on 30th June 2025.
All new 'XI' tags issued by tag suppliers will carry on in sequence from the last tag number issued. Old unused 'UK' tags will not be re-issued with the same numbers, substituting 'UK' for' XI'.
- Question – Will compensation be available for stocks of old tags bearing the ‘UK’ prefix?
Answer – There will be no compensation available for obsolete tags, therefore keepers are being reminded that they should not order a supply of ‘UK’ prefixed tags which they will not be able to use by 30th June 2025.