Current eID requirements for saleyards and depots
- Saleyards and depots must have the capability to read eID devices on all sheep and goats, record the movement of these sheep and goats to the saleyard or depot PIC from the consignment PIC, and to the destination PIC, in the NLIS database.
- Saleyards and depots must carry emergency eID devices for their PIC, or access emergency devices through Local Land Services to apply to unidentified stock.
- Saleyards and depots must report any eID identified animals to the NLIS database as decease if they die onsite.
What NLIS uploads do you need to do?
Key tasks
Current requirements
- Scan and upload individual NLIS movement records for sheep and goats fitted with eID devices from 1 January 2025.
From 1 January 2025, until 1 January 2027, sheep and goats with eID devices and those with visual tags will require slightly different management at saleyards and depots. During this period, there will be two types of uploads to the NLIS database required by saleyard and depot operators:
- Mob-Based uploads – between 1 January 2025 and 1 January 2027, movements to and from saleyards and depots for sheep and goats identified with visual tags and/or eID devices will be uploaded on a mob-basis.
- Individual uploads – from 1 January 2025 any sheep and goats with eID devices will also need to be individually scanned, and their eID data uploaded to the NLIS database for movements to and from saleyards and depots.
This transitional arrangement ensures that both types of uploads are effectively managed during this period. Visual tag and eID emergency NLIS devices must be ordered (through Local Land Services) and be available to apply to unidentified sheep or goats that arrive at the saleyard or depot.
For stock that arrive unidentified:
- If the stock were born from 1 January 2025, use an NLIS emergency eID device.
- If the stock were born before 1 January 2025 and did not come from Victoria, use an NLIS emergency visual tag or eID device.
- If the stock were consigned from Victoria, use an NLIS emergency eID device.
From January 2027
- All sheep and goats will have all movements recorded as individual uploads to the NLIS database.
Visual emergency identifiers will no longer be available.
Goat depot information
- Rangeland harvested goats (HRG) will continue to have a tag free pathway if travelling direct to a processor or via one registered depot
- From 1 January 2025 HRGs must be transported with a HRG specific National Vendor Declaration (NVD). This is available only to accredited HRG producers. Any goats consigned without the specific HRG NVD will require an eID device to be attached and they cannot be consigned as an HRG.
- Any goats arriving with an eID device must be scanned and uploaded to the NLIS database.
Support available
For support on any of these steps, contact us at sheepgoateid@dpird.nsw.gov.au.
eID in Saleyards Online Q&A - March 2024
NSW DPIRD invited agents from Victoria to share their experiences with NSW agents and to answer questions about the logistics around eID use in large saleyards over video call. You can watch the recording here:eID in Saleyards Online Q&A with Victorian agents and saleyard operators
NLIS Support
For more information on how to complete NLIS transfers, visit the Integrity Systems Company Website
FAQs
Why is eID being implemented?
The NLIS (Sheep and Goats) mob-based system was fully implemented in mid-2010. The international markets we sell to now have higher traceability requirements, and the growing volume of international trade and travel has increased biosecurity risks to Australian livestock industries. Therefore, a more accurate and efficient traceability system for is required for sheep and goats.
The introduction of eID will provide more accurate and timely traceability of animals which will:
- Reduce time delays to manage an emergency disease or residue incident
- Enable more targeted response activities, reducing the number of livestock and producers impacted (including livestock destroyed)
- Reduce the time that Australia is restricted from export markets following an emergency disease or residue incident.
What is the benefit of having sheep and goat eID if there is a disease outbreak?
Implementing eID for sheep and goats offers significant advantages during a disease outbreak, particularly in terms of traceability and response efficiency due to:
- Enhanced Traceability:
The 2020 SAFEMEAT Traceability Evaluation Exercise showed that within 24 hours, 70% of sheep with visual tags could be traced back to their vendor or property of residence for the past 30 days. In contrast, nearly 100% of sheep with eIDs could be traced in the same timeframe. This demonstrates the superior accuracy and completeness of traceability with eID.
- Timely and Accurate Management:
While eID does not prevent exotic diseases or residue incidents, it significantly improves the ability to trace and manage affected livestock and their cohorts quickly. This allows for more effective and timely responses to outbreaks, which is critical for minimizing the spread of the disease and reducing its impact.
- Historical Lessons:
Events such as the UK Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in 2001, highlighted the importance of eID. The lack of individual sheep traceability at that time led to a seven-week tracing process, contributing to a widespread outbreak and a seven-year export market ban. By contrast, the implementation of eID in Victoria has demonstrated that tracing can now be completed in minutes instead of days, showcasing the substantial improvement in response efficiency.
eID enhances the ability to trace and manage livestock during a disease outbreak, leading to quicker and more effective responses, reduced impact, and protection of export markets.
Will the NLIS database be upgraded as part of eID implementation?
The Commonwealth Government announced $22.5 million for an upgrade of the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database. Integrity Systems Company will use this investment to develop a new database that has improved functionality, user-friendliness, analytics, reporting and cybersecurity. The new database will be developed independently to avoid impacting the functionality of the current database.
What do saleyards and depots need to do?
Saleyards and depots must now:
- scan, record and report individually to the NLIS database all sheep and goat eID devices moving into, and out of their facilities
- carry emergency eID devices for their PIC to apply to unidentified stock
- report any eID identified animals to the NLIS database as deceased if they die onsite.
What NLIS uploads are saleyards and depots required to do?
From 1 January 2025, until 1 January 2027, sheep and goats with eID devices and those with visual tags will require distinct handling. During this period, there will be two types of uploads to the NLIS database required by saleyard and depot operators:
- Mob-Based uploads - between 1 January 2025 and 1 January 2027, movements to and from saleyards and depots for mobs of older sheep and goats identified with visual tags will be uploaded on a mob-basis.
- Individual uploads – additionally from 1 January 2025 any sheep and goats with eID devices will be individually scanned, and their individual eIDs uploaded to the NLIS database for all movements to and from saleyards and depots.
This transitional arrangement ensures that both types of uploads are effectively managed during this period. This does not result in a duplicate recording of movements in the NLIS database.
From 1 January 2027, only individual eID data will be uploaded.
Sheep or goats with eID devices that die or are humanely euthanised at a saleyard or depot must have their eID scanned and reported individually to the NLIS database as deceased.
How will missing eID devices be managed in saleyards?
In NSW, all sheep and goats born from 1 January 2025 must be fitted with an eID before leaving their property of birth. All sheep and goats of any age must be fitted with an eID before leaving any property from 1 January 2027.
If sheep or goats are not compliant with this timeline and are missing eID devices at a saleyard, you should do the following:
- If there is a small number of stock in a consignment without eIDs, an emergency eID (with the saleyard PIC) can be fitted to each sheep or goat and the vendor charged for the cost of the eID plus attaching it.
- If an entire consignment of stock is not identified with eID devices:
- the stock cannot be sold and should be returned to the vendor, under permit
- the stock can be held until sufficient emergency eID devices can be obtained and attached, and then sold
- For missing NLIS tags:
- If the stock were born from 1 January 2025, use an NLIS emergency eID.
- If the stock were born before 1 January 2025 and did not come from Victoria, use an NLIS emergency visual tag or eID.
- If the stock were consigned from Victoria, use an NLIS emergency eID.
What will agents need to do differently at saleyards?
It is the responsibility of the saleyard operator to discuss with vendors and agents the role and responsibility changes associated with eID implementation.
Agents will be required to utilise eID readers supplied by saleyard operators to scan and record all sheep and goat eID devices and supply information to the saleyard operator before the sheep and goats leave the saleyard. This includes:
- date of sale
- sale lot number
- species
- number of head in each sale lot
- vendor’s PIC
- RFIDs of the sheep/goats in each lot
- serial number of the NLIS movement document.
The destination PIC provided by the buyer or the Agent’s PIC or Buyer code, must be given to the saleyard operator by the end of the sale, or sooner if required by the saleyard operator.
What will agents need to do differently for sheep and goat clients?
As agents are a trusted source of information, selling and purchasing livestock for their clients, agents are strongly encouraged to become familiar with eID requirements for producers and themselves. More detailed information, training and details of specialist support is available at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/eid.
When operating for a client outside of a saleyard, it is not the responsibility of livestock agents to purchase, apply, or scan eID devices for their clients, or to complete any NLIS transfers on their clients’ behalf. However, agents may do this if arranged with the client, especially for recording of sheep and goats’ movements onto their clients’ PICs after buying stock privately or online, eg. via Auctions Plus.
Upcoming events
To find out where our team will be delivering information about sheep and goat eID, visit the LLS Upcoming Events page or sign up for our newsletter.
Contact us
If you have any questions you can contact us at sheepgoateid@dpird.nsw.gov.au.