15.—(1) Except under the authority of an officer of the Minister, no person shall—
(a)remove an eartag which has been attached to an animal in accordance with this Order, or replace such a tag, unless the tag has become illegible, has to be removed for welfare purposes or has been lost; or
(b)remove a tattoo applied to an animal in accordance with this Order, or replace such a tattoo, unless the tattoo has become illegible.
(2) When replacing an eartag or tattoo pursuant to paragraph (1) above, the keeper shall re-mark the animal with an eartag or tattoo with the original number or with an eartag or tattoo bearing the sheep flockmark or goat herdmark of the holding on which the animal is residing, providing that the original identification mark is known and that the original and new identification marks are cross-referenced in the register required under articles 4 and 6.
(3) If it is not possible to re-mark the animal in accordance with the preceding paragraph, the keeper shall re-mark the animal with either—
(a)an eartag coloured red and consisting of the letters “UK” followed by the sheep flockmark or goat herdmark of the premises of the holding on which it is being tagged followed by the letter “R”; or
(b)a tattoo consisting of the sheep flockmark or goat herdmark of the premises of the holding on which it is being tagged followed by the letter “R”.
(4) Paragraphs (2) and (3) above shall not apply in the case of an animal at a market or abattoir.