PIRSA Update | Is scanning equipment needed for eID tags?

Sheep and farmed goats born on or after 1 January 2025 must be identified with an NLIS-accredited eID tag before leaving their property of birth. These tags are linked to your PIC by the tag manufacturer when you buy them, and you do not need to scan and upload to the NLIS database when you apply them to your animals.

As a producer, if you receive sheep or famed goats directly from another property (P2P movement), it is your responsibility to ensure individual animal movements are recorded on the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database within two days of arrival.

Property to property (P2P) movements include:

• moving stock between multiple property identification codes (PIC), even if you own both properties
• moving stock onto your property for agistment
• buying stock privately (with or without an agent)

• buying stock via an online platform (such as Auctions Plus or Farm Gate).

You are not required to scan and record individual stock movements if you:

• buy or sell at a saleyard – this is done by the saleyard operator
• buy at a public auction – this is done by the selling agent

• consign to a processor – this is done by the processor.

If you have a small number of animals arriving on your property, you might be able to update the NLIS database by manually reading eID tags. Producers who receive a large number of sheep and goats onto their property might need to consider if they need scanning equipment, such as a stick reader, wand or panel reader.

Eligible South Australian producers can apply for a 75% rebate on the cost of essential equipment needed to conduct P2P movements to meet NLIS reporting obligations. The maximum rebate amount is determined by the average head movement onto your property over the past 3 consecutive years:

• up to $500 for movements of 100 or less head of animals annually
• up to $2,000 for movements of between 101 and 5,000 head of animals annually
• up to $20,000 for movements of more than 5,000 head of animals annually.

Read the guidelines and apply for the rebate at sa.gov.au/eidequipmentrebateproducers

For more information about SA’s sheep and goat eID implementation and to subscribe for updates visit https://pir.sa.gov.au/eid