Article 23 Removal or replacement of eartags

No person shall remove any movement tag, identification tag, X tag or R tag from an animal without the authorisation of the Secretary of State, unless it is removed to prevent unnecessary pain or suffering to the animal.

Paragraphs (3) to (5) are subject to article 25.

If a movement tag is removed, lost or illegible, the keeper of the animal must, if he knows the number of that movement tag, attach an identical replacement to the animal as soon as possible, but no later than 6 months, after the movement tag was removed, lost or discovered to be illegible, but in any event before the animal is moved from the holding.

If an identification tag is removed, lost or illegible, the keeper of the animal must attach an identical replacement or an R tag to the animal as soon as possible, but no later than 6 months, after the identification tag was removed, lost or discovered to be illegible, but in any event before the animal is moved from the holding.

If an R tag is removed, lost or illegible, the keeper of the animal must attach an identical replacement or another R tag to the animal as soon as possible, but no later than 6 months, after the R tag was removed, lost or discovered to be illegible, but in any event before the animal is moved from the holding.

For the purposes of this article, “movement tag”, “identification tag”, “X tag” and “R tag” shall be construed as including any eartag attached to an animal in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland in accordance with the Council Regulation and any provisions that give effect to the Council Regulation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that bears the same code as a movement tag, identification tag, X tag or R tag.