Article 7 Ear tags and tattoosI1

Northern Ireland

(1)

An ear tag shall be—

(a)

easy to read during the pig’s lifetime;

(b)

made of either metal or plastic or a combination of metal and plastic;

(c)

tamper-resistant;

(d)

incapable of re-use;

(e)

designed to remain attached to the pig without harming it;

(f)

printed with the keeper’s holding code.

(2)

A person shall not sell or supply an ear tag except in accordance with the conditions of a licence issued by the Department.

(3)

A tattoo shall be applied either by tattoo forceps, in which case it shall be on an ear, or by slap-marking equipment in which case it shall be on the shoulder.

(4)

As an alternative to applying a tattoo by methods referred to in paragraph (3) a keeper may apply a tattoo to a shoulder of a pig by means of equipment which uses compressed air to drive the tattooing pins into the skin of the pig.

(5)

A tattoo shall be easy to read during the pig’s lifetime.

(6)

A tattoo shall bear a holding code or in the case of a pig being moved direct to slaughter, a tattoo may bear a holding code or curer mark.

Annotations

Commencement

I1: Art. 7 in operation at 19.3.2012, see art. 1