Marts and factories will not be obliged to install electronic identification (EID) tag-reading systems, even though EID tagging is compulsory for farmers.

There is no obligation on marts and factories to install systems capable of reading EID tags and provide printed dispatch dockets to farmers.

From 1 June 2019, farmers must tag all sheep and lambs with an electronic tag set, except lambs under 12 months of age moving directly to slaughter, which only require a single electronic tag.

Tag details

However, if a mart or factory does not apply to operate as a central point of recording (CPR), farmers will still have to detail the individual tag number of each sheep.

The Department of Agriculture wrote to all relevant marts on 31 January to advise them of changes to tagging rules and their potential roles as CPRs.

Applications are currently being accepted by the Department.

Some €720,000 in grant aid is available to marts for EID system upgrades.

Marts can secure a 40% grant on the cost up to a maximum of €10,000/mart.

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EID tagging optional for marts and factories

While sheep EID tagging will be compulsory for farmers from 1 June, it is possible not all marts and factories will have systems in place to utilise the technology.