The National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) is Australia’s scheme for the identification and tracing of livestock, achieved through a combination of permanent identifiers, movement documents and database records.
The NLIS database holds information on pig movements from birth to slaughter, to protect and enhance Australia’s reputation as a producer of animal products that are free of chemical residues and exotic diseases.
NLIS requirements for pigs
Tracing of pigs is mob-based, which means individual livestock are identified with a visual tag (not RFID device or NLIS ID tag) and recorded as a group.
Under the NSW Biosecurity (NLIS) Regulation 2017, requirements for moving pigs (including pet pigs, pigs raised for personal use and very small pigs) in NSW include:
- Land on which pigs are kept must have a Property Identification Code (PIC).
- All pigs (including pet pigs, pigs raised for personal use and very small pigs) moving off a property must be identified with either a swine brand (pigs>25 kg) or NLIS accredited ear tag, identifying the PIC of the property the pigs have moved from.
- Pigs weighing less than 25kg live-weight must be ear-tagged and not branded.
It is preferable that pigs greater than 25kg are branded, although ear tags are an option if a brand is not available. - All pig movements must be recorded in the national PigPass database (which is immediately transferred to the NLIS database).
- A PigPass National Vendor Declaration (NVD) must accompany pigs whenever they move.
8-Step guide
- 8-Step guide to moving and selling pigs
Follow these 8 steps to make sure you are meeting your biosecurity duty when moving or selling pigs.
Publications
- New NLIS Pig requirements (PDF, 277.18 KB)
A factsheet outlining requirements introduced in 2018, such as the requirements to identify all pigs (not just those heavier than 25kg) and any movements recorded on the PigPass database. - Moving Pigs into and within NSW (PDF, 193.81 KB)
Learn what to do when moving pigs, including pets, within NSW. - Buying and selling pigs (PDF, 282.1 KB)
This factsheet explains the requirements for buying, moving and selling pigs in NSW. - Online sales
Understand the requirements for anyone who is purchasing or selling livestock online. - Quick Guide for shows and campdrafts (PDF, 70.58 KB)
This resource summarises your responsibilities as a show steward or member of a show or campdraft committee.
Procedures
- Livestock movements in emergencies – NLIS and General Biosecurity Duty
This procedure outlines how the NLIS requirements and the General Biosecurity Duty (GBD) can be met in emergency livestock movement situations caused by bushfire, flood, or other emergencies. - NLIS Compliance Monitoring
This procedure describes the requirements for monitoring the NLIS in NSW, consistent with national requirements, with the aim of encouraging industry to improve lifetime traceability of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. - Permanent identifiers for pigs (special circumstances)
The purpose of this procedure is to describe how the NSW Government will manage the situations where a Permanent Identifier for Pigs i.e. a special brand, or a special emergency NLIS post-breeder ear tag is applied to pigs. - NLIS procedures for pigs
This procedure describes the minimum requirements for the identification and movement of pigs under the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS). - Supply of approved identifiers
This procedure describes the minimum requirements for the supply of approved permanent identifiers as part of the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS). - Managing statuses, errors and data transfers on the NLIS database
This document describes procedures for assigning and managing statuses, correcting errors and performing special data transfers on the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database.
Related sites
- Biosecurity (NLIS) Regulation
National system for the identification and tracing of the movement of pigs - PigPass
PigPass is a national tracking system which provides real time information on the movements of all pigs in Australia.
Frequently asked questions - MLA – information about NLIS pigs
- LPA – information about NVDs