Electronic Movement Reporting System for sheep goats and deer

Overview

This was a consultation on the introduction of an electronic movement reporting system for sheep, goats and deer to be introduced from April 2014.

We also consulted on:

(i)  Simplifying slaughter lamb identification by ending the option to use a non-electronic slaughter tag.

(ii)  Permitting the (voluntary) use of an electronic injectable identifier for non-food chain sheep/goats.

The independent Farming RegulationTask Force recommended that electronic reporting for farmed livestock species is introduced to reduce the regulatory burden on farmers (cattle and pig moves are now reported electronically).

The existing paper-based movement reporting system is expensive to operate and is subject to resource pressures. The new electronic system will provide quicker and more accurate movement data to underpin rapid tracing in the event of a disease outbreak.

Collecting movement data electronically will  provide opportunities for the sheep industry to maximise the benefits of electronic identification.

Why your views matter

We wished to hear from interested parties on how we proposed to deliver the new service and our proposals on identification.

The key elements of our proposals were:-

• The existing paper-based system delivered by Local Authorties would be replaced with an electronic system.
• It will be delivered by a single service provider with extensive experience of delivering traceability systems for livestock keepers.
• Markets and abattoirs (70% of all moves) will report moves through their premises electronically.
• A paper channel would be maintained for farmers who may not want to or be able to report electronically.

All interested parties were able to respond and were encouraged to use an online survey link to answer specific questions posed in our consultation document.. Views from those involved in sheep, goat and deer production were particularly encouraged.

There is a link to the consultation documents below.

What happens next

Following consideration of the consultation responses Ministers decided that:

Electronic reporting

• Markets, abattoirs, collection and assembly centres will be required to electronically report all movements through the new reporting database.
• For all movements through those premises operators will be required to record all electronic tags and report the individual animal details to the database.
• The period for reporting electronic movements to the database will remain at 3 days (instead of 24 hours as proposed). There will be no time difference between electronic and paper reporting so as to encourage keepers to use electronic reporting.

Identification

• All sheep will eventually be electronically identiifed.
• The slaughter tag derogation will continue, but the method of identification for slaughter lambs when this derogation is used will be a single electronic ear tag.
• This provision will not however be mandatory until January 2015 to provide keepers and tag suppliers sufficient time to prepare for the change and use up existing stocks of non-EID tags.
• Injectables will not be authorised for use in sheep. They will however be authorised for goats not intended for the food  chain.

The necessary enabling legislation should be made and in place by March 2014.

Work is underway on the development and testing of the new Animal Reporting and Movements Service for sheep, goats and deer.

http://www.arams.co.uk/

DEFRA has published revised guidance for all keepers in England on identification, recording and movement reporting rules for sheep and goats. User guides will also be available on the ARAMS website.

A summary of the consultation responses has been added to the document list.