Background
NSW is the largest sheep and goat producing state in Australia, with State sheep numbers reaching 24.6 million head in the 2021-22 year. Accurate and timely traceability is essential to reduce the time to respond and manage disease or residue incidents, and to provide confidence to consumers. Strong traceability also allows Australia to maintain its hard-won reputation as a producer of ‘clean, green and disease free’ food and fibre.
A 2020 traceability exercise by SAFEMEAT found that only 70% of slaughtered sheep identified with visual tags with the mob-based system could be traced back to the vendor/s or property/s of residence for the previous 30 days, whereas 99.64% of slaughtered sheep with eID could be traced back to the vendor/s or property/s of residence over the same period.
The Victorian eID experience has also shown that traceback now takes a matter of minutes, compared to days for a visual tag mob-based system.
In September 2022, all agricultural ministers in Australia agreed to work towards mandatory implementation of individual sheep and goat electronic identification (eID) nationwide by 1 January 2025. This system will be based on the current National Livestock Identification System (NLIS). For sheep and goats, this will mean a change from a visual tag and mob-based traceability system to one where individual animals can be tracked and traced using eID tags, as is currently in place for cattle.
While nationally the agreed timeline for full implementation of eID is 2025, NSW is taking a more considered approach. Activities towards full implementation will begin in June 2024 and be phased in until 1 January 2027, when mandatory eID will be required for sheep and farmed goats leaving a property in NSW.
NSW key dates
30 June 2024
- Mandatory processor eID scanning and upload
1 January 2025
- Mandatory eID for all sheep and farmed goats born from this date, prior to leaving property of birth
- Mandatory eID scanning and upload by saleyards and depots
- Mandatory eID property to property transfers
1 January 2027
- Mandatory eID for all sheep and farmed goats prior to leaving any property
Implementation Plan
NSW has an implementation plan that provides more detail on why we are moving to eID, what changes will occur as part of the move and what support will be available.
More Information
Information on our industry support packages can be found on the RAA website at NSW Sheep and Goat eID Rebate Scheme.
Further info can be found on our Training and Resources page.
Upcoming Events
To find out where our team will be delivering information about sheep and goat eID, visit our Upcoming Events page or sign up for our newsletter.
Contact us
The sheep and goat traceability team has expert staff located around NSW that are available to answer your questions and attend events in your area. Contact us at sheepgoateid@dpi.nsw.gov.au.