Changes to VIC NLIS requirements
28 May 2018
Implementation of electronic identification (eID) of sheep and goats in Victoria has been in place since 31 March 2018.
Victorian producers are required to record movements of individual animals whenever they receive sheep or goats fitted with electronic identification (eID) tags from another property. You are required to record these movements in the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database.
A property-to-property transfer might occur if you buy livestock privately, receive stock on agistment or borrow stock from another producer, or if you transfer sheep or goats between two of your properties which have separate Property Identification Codes (PICs).
The person receiving the consignment is responsible for scanning the individual eIDs and registering the stock movement – that is, whenever sheep or goats are delivered onto your PIC, you must make sure the NLIS database is updated with their eID numbers.
All lambs or kids born since 1 January 2017 must be fitted with individual eID tags before they leave their property of birth. Instructions for ordering tags are on the Agriculture Victoria website: www.agriculture.vic.gov.au.
You can still move animals born before 1 January 2017 under the original mob-based system.
This new requirement for movement recording by the receiver is part of Victoria’s sheep eID program and is designed to help protect the state’s 20 million sheep and goats, and a meat and wool industry valued at $2.7 billion/year.
From 31 December 2017, abattoirs and knackeries have been scanning sheep/goat eID tags on arrival and uploading this information to the NLIS database. From 31 March this year, all electronically-tagged sheep and goats must be scanned when being moved through saleyards.
A short video produced by Agriculture Victoria explains the process. The video is available in English and four common community languages: Greek, Hindi, Spanish and Arabic. Workshops are being held in Victoria to help producers understand their responsibilities. Visit Agriculture Victoria's website for more information.
For an overview of how to use NLIS, visit the NLIS website.
