The National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) Sheep & Goats is Australia's system for identifying and tracing sheep, lambs and farmed goats. It is a mob-based system that links animals with the properties on which they have run.

The NLIS enhances Australia's ability to maintain access to key export markets and helps to quickly contain a major food safety or disease incident. It is implemented by industry in partnership with governments across Australia.

Mob-based tracing system requirements

NLIS Sheep & Goats was introduced on 1 January 2006. It uses visually readable ear tags printed with a Property Identification Code (PIC) to identify mobs of sheep and goats. Traceability is provided by the combination of ear tags, movement documents and uploads of all mob-based movements to saleyards, abattoirs and other properties to the NLIS database.

All sheep must be ear tagged before they are moved from any property to a saleyard, abattoir or another property. The tag must be printed with the PIC of the property the sheep are moving from unless the sheep are bought in sheep and have already been tagged. A movement document (usually a national vendor declaration (NVD) or transported stock statement (TSS)) must be fully completed and accompany the sheep when they move. If the mob is non-vendor bred or mixed and contains tags with different PICs, all 'Other PICs' must be written on the movement document or a pink post breeder ear tag must be used with the current property's PIC printed on it for those sheep which have been bought in.

Mob-based tracing system in NSW

NSW Department of Primary Industries supports the current mob-based system for NLIS Sheep and Goats.

Read more on NSW DPI support for mob-based tracing system.

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