# The Pigs (Records, Identification and Movement) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012, Article 7: Ear tags and tattoos

Extent: N.I.

(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.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2012/67/article/7 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/pigs-records-identification-and-movement-order-northern-ireland-2012/article-7
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.