Electronic identification for sheep and goats

In September 2022, the Commonwealth Government, in collaboration with State and Territory Agricultural Ministers, announced their plan to implement a mandatory traceability system for sheep and goats. 

This system would require individual electronic identification (eID) for each animal. The goal was to create a traceability system that can comprehensively and efficiently manage any outbreaks of animal diseases within the supply chain, increase food traceability, among other potential benefits for the entire value chain. This effort underscored the clear intention to enhance disease management and animal tracking. However, through their good intention, came a rollout that saw major stress and anxiety from producers that feared their businesses and livelihoods would be put in jeopardy.

Read more: The Enhanced Biosecurity Project: Safeguarding Tasmania’s agricultural future

In what was an exhaustive process to get to where we are now, the Tasmanian Government took a unique stance on their implementation to begin with. To give some background, many States and Territories staggered their implementation plan. Starting with a 2025 rollout that would see only sheep and goats born on farm, required to have an eID when they left their premises. This would then be followed with a 2027 stage that would have all sheep and goats leaving their premises to have an eID tag. Tasmania on the other hand went ahead with a ‘hard’ rollout that would see the 2027 stage eliminated and all animals leaving their premises would need an eID tag regardless of age, at the start of 2025.

This brought great unrest in the sheep and goat farming community, with pushback coming hard and fast when information was made available. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) conducted several consultations with farmers after the growing pressure for change, and with the feedback, went back to the drawing board and revised their plan.

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In the midst of an election process that spanned several weeks, there were continual updates from the team at NRE, with each plan more appetising than the last. They reached a point that by the time the new Agricultural Minister was appointed, stakeholders felt confident there would be positive changes put into the draft legislation.

This resulted in a rollout plan that was endorsed by the Honourable Jane Howlett that has now seen the following come into effect.

(i)            1 March 2024 – Industry Support Grant Scheme opens. Eligible for saleyards, processors, transport depots, transporters, agencies and agents. Closes 30 Sep 2024.

(ii)           1 June 2024 – $1 tag rebate for producers, applied at the point of sale. Producers can claim rebates in retrospect if they have purchased tags at any time in 2024. This closes on 30 June 2026.

(iii)         1 July 2024 – Producer Infrastructure Grant Scheme opens. 75% rebate on equipment such as stick readers, panel reader, or a combination thereof.

$5,000 limit per PIC. This closes when funds are exhausted, or by 30 June 2025.

(iv)          1 Jan 2025 – All sheep and goats born on farm required to have an eID tag when they leave their premises.

(v)           1 Jan 2027 – All sheep and goats leaving their premises, regardless of age are required to have an eID tag.

Read more: Tasmanian Livestock Health Report – July 2024

In summary, the journey has been fraught with obstacles that farmers have rightly confronted, voicing their concerns along the way. However, with a revised implementation plan, the path for Tasmanian sheep and goat producers is now clearer. A cooperative approach to this national rollout can ensure the successful transition to eIDs and, although challenges are anticipated, the support of both the state government and farmers alike can help phase in this system with minimal impact on farm businesses.