Sheep and goat eID National Implementation Plan

Implementation dates

1 January 2025

• All sheep and farmed goats born on or after this date must be fitted with an accredited NLIS eID device before leaving their property of birth
• Property to property movement scanned and recorded on the NLIS database

1 January 2027

• All sheep and goats must be fitted with an accredited NLIS eID device before leaving a property, regardless of age

Date N/A – no abattoirs or saleyards in the ACT

• Abattoirs scan devices and notify movements to the NLIS database
• Saleyards scan devices and notify movements to the NLIS database

Information and resources

The ACT eID implementation plan aligns with NSW's to ensure ACT farmers meet the mandatory requirements for NSW saleyards and processors.

Implementation dates

30 June 2024

• Abattoirs scan devices and notify movements to the NLIS database

1 January 2025

• All sheep and farmed goats born on or after this date must be fitted with an accredited NLIS eID device before leaving their property of birth
• Property to property movement scanned and recorded on the NLIS database
• Saleyards scan devices and notify movements to the NLIS database

1 January 2027

• All sheep and goats must be fitted with an accredited NLIS eID device before leaving a property, regardless of age

Information and resources

The Minister for Agriculture, the Hon Tara Moriarty MLC, supports electronic identification (eID) implementation as a priority.

The NSW Government announced a $38m industry support rebate package in 2023 that will deliver additional investment as part of the 2023-24 and 2024-25 budgets to support the implementation of eID for sheep and farmed goats in NSW.

The NSW Sheep & Goat eID Infrastructure Scheme provided a rebate for eligible readers, software, hardware, modifications, equipment & training for:

• Producers - 50% rebate up to $15,250 for eligible readers, software, hardware and equipment
• Saleyards - 100% rebate up to: small $48,000; medium $146,000; large $525,000; extra-large $790,000.
• Agents - 50% rebate up to $2,000
• Processors - 50% rebate up to: small $44,000; medium $52,000; large $97,000.

The NSW Government announced an additional $1.4m support package for eligible saleyards in relation to costs associated with equipment installation on the 12 April 2024.

The NSW Government announced a $10.2m Sheep & Goat eID tag point of sale discount of $0.76 for 2025 White NLIS accredited devices. The program will run from 1 November 2024 to 31 October 2025 or until funds are exhausted.

NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and Local Land Services (LLS) staff specialising in sheep & goat eID/ National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) continue to attend a wide range of events (including field days, livestock agents, merchandising stores, grower groups and agricultural consultants) addressing stakeholder concerns and explaining the mandatory eID process in NSW.

The NSW DPIRD chaired Sheep & Goat Traceability Reference Group continues to meet regularly with industry representatives to discuss implementation of eID in NSW.

Processors began scanning individual eID’s for sheep and goats and uploading to the NLIS Database on 1 July 2024. DPIRD Industry Liaison Officers continue to support Processors and Saleyards in addressing software and technical issues, to assist them meeting compliance with regulatory requirements.

The Biosecurity (National Livestock Identification System) Amendment (Electronic Devices) Regulation 2024 commenced on 30 June 2024. It makes amendments to the Biosecurity (National Livestock Identification System) Regulation 2017 (NLIS Regulation) to support the implementation of individual electronic identification (eID) for sheep and goats in NSW.

The NSW DPI Sheep & Goat eID webpage continues to be updated with information, resources and case studies for all industry sectors.

Implementation dates

1 January 2025

• All sheep and farmed goats born on or after this date must be fitted with an accredited NLIS eID device before leaving their property of birth
• All sheep and goats must be fitted with an accredited NLIS eID device before leaving a property, regardless of age
• Abattoirs scan devices and notify movements to the NLIS database
• Property to property movement scanned and recorded on the NLIS database
• Saleyards scan devices and notify movements to the NLIS database

Information and resources

The NT will be making amendments to the current NT Livestock Act 2008 to incorporate the newly approved Sheep and Goat NLIS Standards. These are anticipated to be in effect by April 2025.

A comprehensive communications campaign has been undertaken in the first half of 2024 to communicate the new requirements coming into effect 1 January 2025. This includes updating the NT website to nationally consistent messaging.

Equipment has been purchased to undertake ear tagging and will be rolled out through the regions in the last quarter of 2024, starting in the Darwin region and moving south.

The NT is striving to get full compliance with the new requirements by 1 January 2025 and will be using the first 12 months as an education period for mandatory compliance.

The NT National Livestock Identification System webpage continues to be updated with information and resources.

Implementation dates

1 January 2025

• All sheep and farmed goats born on or after this date must be fitted with an accredited NLIS eID device before leaving their property of birth
• Abattoirs scan devices and notify movements to the NLIS database
• Property to property movement scanned and recorded on the NLIS database
• Saleyards scan devices and notify movements to the NLIS database

1 January 2027

• All sheep and goats must be fitted with an accredited NLIS eID device before leaving a property, regardless of age

Information and resources

The Queensland Government announced $6.344 million to support Queensland sheep and goat producers, saleyards, processors and livestock agents implementing mandatory individual electronic identification (eID).

The Queensland Sheep and Goat Electronic Identification Rebate Scheme has now commenced. Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) will administer the scheme for Producers and agents and QDAF will administer the scheme for saleyards, processors and Agricultural Show Sub Chambers. The schemes will provide a:

• 50% rebate up to $1600 (per Property Identification Code (PIC) based in Queensland) to sheep and managed goat producers for eID readers and eID devices.
• 50% rebate up to $2500 (small saleyards) or $65,000 (large saleyards) for eID readers, software and hardware.
• 50% rebate up to $2500 (small processor), or $10,000 (medium processors), or $85,000 (large processors), for eID readers, software and hardware.
• 50% rebate up to $1600 to Queensland livestock agents and show society sub chambers for eID readers.

Queensland will transition to eID for sheep and managed goats in two stages:

• Sheep and managed goats born on or after 1 January 2025 will be identified with an NLIS-accredited eID device before leaving their property of birth.
• All other sheep and managed goats leaving a property will need to be identified with an NLIS-accredited eID device from 1 January 2027.

To learn more about sheep and goat eID or watch the sheep and goat eID webinar visit the Queensland mandatory sheep and goat individual electronic identification webpage.

Implementation dates

1 January 2025

• All sheep and farmed goats born on or after this date must be fitted with an accredited NLIS eID device before leaving their property of birth
• Abattoirs scan devices and notify movements to the NLIS database
• Property to property movement scanned and recorded on the NLIS database

1 July 2025

• Saleyards scan devices and notify movements to the NLIS database

1 January 2027

• All sheep and goats must be fitted with an accredited NLIS eID device before leaving a property, regardless of age

Information and resources

The Government of South Australia is delivering investment of $9.3m to support the implementation of electronic identification (eID) for farmed sheep and goats in South Australia.

SA Sheep and Goat producers can access discounted NLIS accredited eID devices in the 2025 year of birth colour (white) until 30 June 2025. A 95c discount will be applied by the retailer or manufacturer at the time of purchase.

SA producers purchased over 3.2 million eID devices in 2024.

A range of essential eID equipment rebates are available for supply chain participants with the majority open until 30 June 2025. Guidelines and online application forms are available on the PIRSA website.

Please visit the PIRSA eID infrastructure webpage for more information.

South Australia's eID Advantage Program (2024-2027) is a 3-year initiative that is assisting producers, and the supply chain transition improve their awareness, knowledge and practical application of the national mandatory eID implementation and the use of eID technology for traceability, productivity and profitability.

The Industry Advisory Committee met eleven times over an 18-month period.

Implementation dates

1 January 2025

• All sheep and farmed goats born on or after this date must be fitted with an accredited NLIS eID device before leaving their property of birth
• Abattoirs scan devices and notify movements to the NLIS database
• Property to property movement scanned and recorded on the NLIS database
• Saleyards scan devices and notify movements to the NLIS database

1 January 2027

• All sheep and goats must be fitted with an accredited NLIS eID device before leaving a property, regardless of age

Information and resources

The Tasmanian Government has announced it will provide $11.66 million to help Tasmanian sheep and goat producers transition to a new electronic identification system by 1 January 2025.

Three industry support schemes have been established to assist the industry transition to mandatory eID:

• Grant Round 1 – Supply Chain Infrastructure (now closed)
  Rebates of up to 75% of costs for eID scanning infrastructure for eligible supply chain participants (processors, saleyards, transit yards).
• Grant Round 2 – Tag Rebate Scheme (closes 30 June 2026)
  Point of sale rebate of $1 per eID ear tag and $4 per eID goat leg band on eligible devices.
• Grant Round 3 – Infrastructure support for livestock owners, show societies, not-for-profits (closes 30 June 2025)
  Rebates of up to 75% of costs for handheld eID scanning devices for eligible livestock owners.
  Rebates of up to 100% of costs for eID scanning equipment for eligible agricultural societies and not-for-profit groups.

The new Biosecurity (Livestock Traceability) Regulations 2024 were enacted on 11 December 2024. The new regulations provide the legislative framework for eID implementation.

To learn more about sheep and goat eID rebate, visit the Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment Sheep and goat electronic identification webpage.

Implementation dates

1 January 2017

• All sheep and farmed goats born on or after this date must be fitted with an accredited NLIS eID device before leaving their property of birth

31 December 2017

• Abattoirs scan devices and notify movements to the NLIS database

31 March 2018

• Saleyards scan devices and notify movements to the NLIS database
• Property to property movement scanned and recorded on the NLIS database

1 January 2022

• All sheep and goats must be fitted with an accredited NLIS eID device before leaving a property, regardless of age

Information and resources

Individual eID is mandatory in Victoria.

Victoria’s implementation of eID was completed in January 2022. Watch Agriculture Victoria’s Transition to Electronic Identification of Sheep and Goats in Victoria to learn more about its experience.

The Agriculture Victoria National Livestock Identification System webpage has information, resources and videos.

Implementation dates

1 January 2025

• All sheep and farmed goats born on or after this date must be fitted with an accredited NLIS eID device before leaving their property of birth*

*within six-months of birth or before leaving their property of birth (whichever is earlier).

1 July 2025

• Abattoirs scan devices and notify movements to the NLIS database
• Saleyards scan devices and notify movements to the NLIS database

1 July 2026

• All sheep and goats must be fitted with an accredited NLIS eID device before leaving a property, regardless of age
• Property to property movement scanned and recorded on the NLIS database

Information and resources

$25.6 million has been committed toward assisting industry transition to mandatory electronic identification (eID) for sheep and goats.

The WA Sheep and Goat Advisory Group will continue to meet on the implementation of eID in WA.

A Tag Incentive Program went live on 28 March 2023, offering a 75 cent per tag discount for fully accredited sky blue (year of birth colour) eID tags. The 2023 tag incentive payment scheme has been extended until 31 December 2024.

A current TIP Scheme is open for white year-of-birth eID tags until 31 December 2025. An additional TIP round for 2026 will be considered and announced in late 2025. Since March 2023 WA producers have purchased in excess of 4.2 million eID tags for sheep and goats, giving a good indication of acceptance and planning by the WA sheep and goat industries.

An infrastructure grant scheme, opened on 16 November 2023, has been developed to assist with purchase of essential eID equipment and infrastructure upgrades in critical congregation points along the supply chain. To date this scheme, comprising two rounds, has seen 99 applicants receive approval for funding up to a total of $3.5 million.

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development staff specialising in sheep eID/National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) continue to attend a wide range of events to help address stakeholder concerns and explain the mandatory ID process in WA, including field days with livestock agent companies, grower groups and agricultural consultants.

The WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development electronic identification for sheep and goats webpage is continuing to be update with information and resources.

Information and resources

Commonwealth co-investment arrangements with states and territories have all been finalised, with details available on the Federal Financial Relations website.

Work is underway with Integrity Systems Company, administrator of the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS), to support the uplift of the NLIS database and associated systems. This is a significant whole-of-system, multi-year undertaking that will deliver benefits for the broader Australian livestock sector.