The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has today (Monday, May 12) advised farmers in Northern Ireland to use up any UK livestock tags they may have before the final switchover date of June 30, 2025.
The prefix code on Northern Ireland livestock identification tags for cattle, sheep and goats changed from UK to XI last year.
This change was a legal requirement under EU Animal Health Law to “ensure continued unfettered access – subject to normal export eligibility requirements – to both EU and UK internal markets” for livestock and agri-food products from Northern Ireland.
From June last year only tags bearing the XI prefix could be purchased and UK prefix tags were no longer available to buy.
However DAERA had facilitated an additional 12-month “transitional period” for livestock keepers to use up any remaining stocks of UK tags.
Livestock tags
DAERA has recommend that XI prefixed tags are applied to all newborn animals in Northern Ireland if it is likely that the animal will be exported to outside the UK in the future.
Otherwise, they may have to be re-identified prior to export.
But, animals identified in Northern Ireland with UK tags prior to the 30 June 2025, which are remaining within the UK, will not need to be re-identified with XI tags.
A DAERA spokesperson added today: “As we approach the end of this transitional period on June 30, 2025, livestock keepers are encouraged to use up any remaining UK tags.
“From this date, unused UK prefixed tags will become obsolete and keepers will not be able to use them to identify their animals.”
DAERA has also reminded exporters to the Republic of Ireland that from June 30, 2025, all sheep must be identified with XI tags prior to their export, including any previously identified with UK tags with the re-identification being recorded in the flock register.
“Keepers may wish to consider identifying all sheep going to market with XI tags to ensure they are eligible for purchase for export.
“However, cattle identified with UK tags prior to 30 June 2025 can still be exported to Ireland after this date without being re-identified with XI tags,” the department outlined.
According to DAERA exporters to continental Europe are reminded that all livestock must be identified with XI tags prior to their export.
It has advised that any animals previously tagged with UK tags must be re-identified with XI tags.
For cattle, this must be done under veterinary supervision the department also outlined.
