The Pigs (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 2011

PART 3Identification

Ear tags and tattoos

6.—(1) An ear tag must 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)sufficiently heat-resistant that neither the ear tag nor the information printed or stamped on it can be damaged by the processing of the carcase following slaughter; and

(f)designed to remain attached to the pig without harming it.

(2) A tattoo must be applied either by tattoo forceps, in which case it must be on an ear, or by slap-marking equipment, in which case it must be on each shoulder and must, in either case, be easy to read.

(3) As an alternative to applying a tattoo by the methods referred to in paragraph (2) a keeper may apply a tattoo to each shoulder by means of equipment which uses compressed air to drive the tattooing pins into the skin of the pig provided the tattoo is easy to read.

(4) A keeper may mark a pig with any further information, or add further information to the ear tag or tattoo provided that the further information is clearly distinguished from the information required under this Order.

Identification of pigs moved off a holding

7.—(1) No person may move a pig off a holding unless it has—

(a)an ear tag with the letters “UK” followed by the herdmark of the holding from which it is being moved; or

(b)a tattoo showing that herdmark (with or without the letters “UK”);

applied in accordance with article 6.

(2) Subject to the Disease Control Order (England) 2003(1) in the case of a market—

(a)a pig may be moved off if it is marked with the herdmark of the holding from which it arrived;

(b)if the pig is not correctly identified when it arrives at a market a keeper may correct the identification so that it is identified with the herdmark of the holding from which it arrived, but if he does not do so it may only be returned to the holding from which it came.

Exception for a pig less than one year old

8.—(1) Article 7 does not apply in relation to a pig less than one year old provided that it is identified with a temporary mark that—

(a)either by itself or by reference to a document accompanying the pig during the movement enables the holding from which the pig was last moved to be identified; and

(b)lasts until the pig reaches its destination.

(2) This exception does not apply in relation to a pig being moved—

(a)to a market;

(b)to a slaughterhouse;

(c)for the purposes of intra-Community trade or export; or

(d)to a show.

Additional identification requirements for movements of pigs to shows, porcine semen centres etc.

9.—(1) No person may move a pig off a holding—

(a)to a show or exhibition;

(b)for breeding purposes with the intention of returning the pig to the holding from which it was moved; or

(c)for the purpose of collection of semen at a porcine semen centre;

unless it is marked in accordance with article 7 and with an identification mark that includes a unique individual identification number.

Additional requirements for export

10.  No person may move a pig off a holding for the purposes of intra-Community trade or export unless it has an ear tag or tattoo in its ear, in either case bearing the letters “UK” followed by a herdmark and a unique individual identification number.

Identification of pigs moved onto a holding from outside the European Union

11.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3) any person importing a pig from outside the European Union must apply an ear tag or tattoo to the pig containing the following information, in the following order—

(a)the letters “UK”;

(b)the herdmark of the herd into which the imported pig is introduced;

(c)any other information, if the keeper wishes to apply such information; and

(d)the letter “F”.

(2) The ear tag or tattoo must be applied to the pig within 30 days of its arrival at the holding of destination and, in any event, before it is moved from that holding.

(3) A person importing a pig from outside the European Union need not apply a new identification mark in accordance with paragraph (1) where a pig is moved directly to a slaughterhouse and is slaughtered within 30 days of arrival.