DAERA is reminding all livestock keepers they have less than four
weeks to use any remaining stocks of ‘UK' prefixed livestock
identification tags that they hold.
From the 30 June 2025 only 'XI' prefixed tags can be used to
identify newborn cattle, sheep, and goats.
A DAERA spokesperson said: “DAERA facilitated a 12-month
transitional period to allow livestock keepers time to use up
stocks of ‘UK' prefixed livestock tags. However, this
transitional period will end soon and from 30 June 2025, any
unused ‘UK' prefixed tags will become obsolete and keepers will
not be able to use them to identify their animals.”
DAERA continues to recommend that 'XI' prefixed tags are applied
to newborn animals that may be exported to outside the UK in the
future. Otherwise, they may have to be reidentified prior
to export.
There is no requirement to reidentify animals with ‘XI' tags, if
identified in Northern Ireland, with 'UK' tags prior to the 30
June 2025, if they will remain in the UK. However,
livestock keepers, will need to check the identification
requirements for animals destined for the EU, which is available
on the DAERA website.
More information on this change, including a set of Q&As, are
available on the DAERA website at: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/introduction-identification-registration-and-movement-animals.
Notes to editors:
1. The change to the prefix code on livestock tags, which is a
legal requirement under EU Animal Health Law, will ensure
continued unfettered access (subject to normal export eligibility
requirements) to both EU and UK internal markets for our
livestock and agri-food products.
2. Since 24 June 2024:
- all new cattle tags issued in NI begin with “XI 0”, replacing
“UK 9”. This will allow the whole tag number to be encoded on
electronic identification devices in future.
- all new sheep tags issued in NI begin with XI 17 replacing
“UK 17”.
3. From 30 June 2025, all sheep being exported to the Republic of
Ireland must be identified with 'XI' tags prior to their export,
including any previously identified with 'UK' tags with the
re-identification being recorded in the flock register. Keepers
may wish to consider identifying all sheep going to market with
‘XI' tags to ensure they are eligible for purchase for export.
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.
4. Currently all livestock exported to continental Europe must be
identified with 'XI' tags prior to their export. Any such
animals previously tagged with 'UK' tags must be re-identified
with 'XI' tags. For cattle, this must be done under
veterinary supervision.
