Sheep and goat identification and traceability: guidance for keepers in Scotland

Section 6: Exports and imports (intra-Community trade)

Exporting animals (no matter where they were born)

General rules

If you are exporting sheep and goats, either to another EU country or to a country outside the EU, animals must (depending on when they were born) be fully EID identified or double identified with identifiers which bear the same individual identification number.

Animals born or identified after 31 December 2009:

Sheep only – one identifier must be electronic.

The following combinations of electronic identifier and matching tag are eligible for export:

• EID ear tag and conventional ear tag;
• EID ear tag and conventional pastern tag;
• EID bolus and conventional ear tag (must be black);
• EID bolus and conventional pastern tag (must be black).

Goats which are born or identified after 31 December 2009 and being exported will need to be fully EID identified.

Animals identified before 31 December 2009:

Sheep or goats need two non-electronic tags showing the same individual number.

However, if the animal does not have an electronic identifier you should check with your importer to make sure animals without electronic identifiers will be accepted. In some EU states all animals must have electronic identification. This means that animals without an electronic identifier may not meet your purchaser's requirements.

Animals with just one ear tag

You cannot export single tagged animals. However, you can upgrade some single tagged animals and then export them. See section 1, page 10 for the rules on upgrading.

Animals with red replacement tags

Animals which had their tags replaced with a double set of red replacement identifiers (both bearing the same individual numbers) are eligible for export as long as they are fully traceable.

Exporting animals to Northern Ireland

All animals born or identified after 31 December 2009 must be fully EID identified before they are exported.

Exported animals – holding timescale

All animals must be on their holding for at least 30 days before they are exported, out with GB (England, Scotland and Wales). This is known as the residency requirement.

Holding register – recording exported animals

• animals with two matching tags – no electronic identifier
  Animals which are double identified (historic animals) will need to be individually recorded in the holding register.
• fully EID identified animals
  Record each animal's individual identification number as you would for trade within the UK.

You must record the full address of the keeper overseas in your holding register.

Contact your local Animal Health Divisional Office (contact details at Annex B) before you export animals to discuss export health-certification requirements.

Movement document – animals intended for export

When animals are exported you must record the details of the keeper overseas in your movement document. You must send the top white copy to SAMU.

Movement document – animals intended for export or transfer to Northern Ireland

You must fill in sections 1 and 2 of the movement document and send it to SAMU.

Movement document – animals moving to England and Wales

Animals moving to England and Wales must be accompanied by a movement document. The receiving keeper must send a copy of the document to their relevant local authority.

Importing animals

Animals brought in from England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Identification

If you bring sheep or goats into Scotland from England, Wales or Northern Ireland, they must be identified in line with the law in the countries they are moving from.

Holding register

When animals arrive at your holding, you must record the details of the move in your holding register, either individually or on a batch basis, depending on the type of animals you have received.

Movement document

If you receive animals from England or Wales, you should complete the relevant part of the movement document (AML 1) that arrives with the animals and return it to SAMU. You must do this within three days of the move taking place. Animals arriving from Northern Ireland will have a health certificate. You should keep this for your records. You must also fill in the movement document and return it to SAMU within three days of the animals arriving at your holding.

When you move these animals off your holding you must follow rules for moves within Scotland. So you must record the movement (either individually or on a batch basis) in your holding register and fill in a movement document.

Animals imported from other European Union (EU) countries

Identification

Sheep and goats imported from other EU countries must either be double identified (historic animals) or fully EID identified if born or identified after 31 December 2009.

Holding register

When animals arrive at your holding, you must record the individual numbers in your holding register.

Movement document

Animals arriving from the EU will have an export health certificate which you should keep for your records. You must also fill in a movement document and send a copy to SAMU. You must do this within three days of the animals arriving on your holding.

Animals imported from countries outside the EU

Identification

If you are the first keeper to receive animals being imported from outside the EU, you must tag the animals with two identifiers (one of which must be electronic if the animal is a sheep) with identical numbers. You must do this within 14 days of them arriving or before they leave the holding if this is earlier.

Holding register

When animals arrive at your holding, you must do the following:

• record in the holding register the date the animal was moved onto your holding, this must be done within 48 hours of their arrival;
• cross reference in your holding register, the animal's full identification number on the UK tags with the animals' existing identification number from the country it came from.

If the identifier applied at the holding the animal has come from is subsequently lost, it does not have to be replaced.

Movement document

You must fill in a movement document and send a copy to SAMU within 3 days of the animals arriving on your holding.

Animals imported into Scotland via England or Wales

Animals imported into Scotland via England or Wales will not be accompanied by a movement document; they will have an export health certificate. However, you must complete a movement document and send it to SAMU within 3 days of the animals arriving on your holding.