| NLIS is Australia’s system for the identification and tracing of sheep and goats for biosecurity, food safety, product integrity and market access purposes. |
| To enhance this system, the recording of the movement of mobs of sheep or goats between properties on the NLIS database is being progressively rolled out across all states from 1 July 2010. Mob-based movement recording is currently voluntary in Western Australia and will become compulsory from 2011. You are responsible Throughout Australia, producers are required to know where the sheep and goats under their management have come from and where they are going. |
- The NLIS ear tag must be imprinted with the owner’s registered brand (tags in other states carry the owner’s PIC). - All new NLIS ear tags must be produced by an approved NLIS tag manufacturer and carry the NLIS logo. - All transported sheep and goats, including feral or unmanaged goats, must be accompanied by accurate and fully completed movement documents, generally a Livestock Production Assurance National Vendor Declaration and Waybill (LPA NVD/Waybill). Know your obligations How do I record a mob-based movement? Under the incoming requirements, the person responsible for the livestock at the destination property will need to record movements of mobs of sheep and goats between properties with different PICs on the NLIS database. The following information is then recorded: - The PIC the sheep or goats came from - The PIC the sheep or goats were moved to - The date of the movement - The number of livestock - The brand on the last NLIS ear tag applied (vendor’s brand) - The LPA NVD/Waybill or movement document number |
Which ear tags do I use? All sheep or goats must be identified with approved NLIS ear tags before moving them from the property. For sheep or goats bred on your property, use colour-coded (birth year) breeder tags. For non-vendor bred or introduced sheep or goats, use pink NLIS post-breeder tags. | 'The person responsible for the livestock at the destination property will need to record movements of mobs of sheep and goats.' |
What movement documents are required? All sheep and goat movements require original appropriate movement documentation such as a fully completed LPA NVD/Waybill. You must retain all movement documentation on your property for at least three years after the movement of the livestock. What do I do if I am moving sheep or goats interstate? If sheep or goats are being transported out of Western Australia, both Western Australian and destination state requirements for NLIS and livestock movement documentation must be complied with (along with the requirements of any other state that the livestock pass through during the journey). Are there exemptions for tagging in Western Australia? Some exemptions are in place in Western Australia for captured unmanaged goats in pastoral areas as well as dairy goats. Contact the Department of Agriculture and Food WA for further details. If in doubt find out: Department of Agriculture and Food WA Phone: 08 9780 6100 www.agric.wa.gov.au www.mla.com.au/NLISSheepAndGoats National Livestock Identification System www.nlis.com.au |
