Tag Rebate - Grant Round 2 - Closing 3 April 2026
Industry is being supported through an eID rebate through Grant Round 2. Check your eligibility in the Guildeines.
eID Tag Rebate Scheme Guidelines (PDF 102Kb)
What is an eID?
An Electronic Identification Device (eID) is an ear tag or leg band that contains a scannable 16 digit Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) microchip allowing for livestock to be uniquely identified and traced. The NLIS ID is also printed on the outside of the eID. Both numbers are uploaded to the NLIS database for identification and traceability.
NLIS approved eID
The
Biosecurity (Livestock Traceability) Regulations 2024 require that only
NLIS accredited devices are used. To order a NLIS approved eID, you will need your PIC.
Colours
The Biosecurity (Livestock Traceability) Regulations 2024 don’t require specific year of birth colours but it is recommended that the colour system is followed, as shown below.
Year-of-Birth Breeder Tag: identify animals based on their year of birth before they leave their property of birth.
Pink Post-Breeder Tag: used on introduced sheep or goats that have no tag or only have a visual tag.
Yellow (Generic) Breeder Tag: identify animals of any age before they leave their property of birth.
Yellow
| 2021
| 2029
|
Red
| 2022
| 2030
|
Sky blue
| 2023
| 2031
|
Black
| 2024
| 2032
|
White
| 2025
| 2033
|
Orange
| 2026
| 2034
|
Light Green
| 2027
| 2035
|
Purple
| 2028
| 2036
|
Pink
| Post breeder devices
|
|
| Yellow | Breeder devices
|
|
Which livestock need eID?
Sheep
From 1 January 2025, all sheep born must be identified with an eID ear tag before leaving their birth property.
From 1 January 2027, all sheep must be identified with an eID ear tag before leaving their birth property.
Goats
From 1 January 2025, all goats born must be identified with an eID before leaving their birth property.
From 1 January 2027, all goats must be identified with an eID before leaving their birth property.
eID goat leg bands can be used where ear tags are not suitable for particular goat breeds.
If a goat can't be tagged with an eID due to thin, earless or vascular ears, their owner can apply for a permit. This must occur before the goat leaves the property. Producers are required to supply a RFID tag for each goat without a NLIS tag attached.
Application and Permit to Dispatch Goats Without NLIS Tag Attached (PDF 168Kb)
Bobby calves
Cattle
All cattle leaving a property must be NLIS identified with either a RFID ear tag or rumen bolus/ear tag combination unless it is unsafe to do so.
Where it is a work health and safety issue to identify cattle with a NLIS device, there are two options:
- Apply to the Secretary to move the cattle to a site where there are facilities to safely identify the cattle using your NLIS devices.
- Apply for a permit to move unidentified cattle. The approved permit must accompany the cattle with the movement document in transit from the property to the destination. You will need to check the abattoir will accept the stock under the permit.
Pigs
All pigs 25kg or under leaving a property must be identified with an approved NLIS device.
All pigs 25kg or over can be identified with an approved NLIS device or a registered tattoo brand before leaving a property.
Why move to eID for sheep and goats?
In a disease outbreak, it's important to quickly find and track infected animals to stop the spread.
Studies on electronic identification (eID) show that eID are better at tracing sheep and goats than visual tags. Data shows that eID tracing takes minutes, compared to several days with the visual system.
eID technology has been used successfully for sheep in Europe and in cattle in Australia for many years.
See these resources for more information on the benefits of switching to eID:
The 5 Whys on Electronic Identification eID Tracing
Where’s Woolly?
How do I purchase eID?
To purchase eID, you will need to be authorised for a PIC and to order NLIS tags for that species.
NLIS approved eID can be purchased from your local or online rural supply store.
You will need to provide your PIC at the time you order.
Tasmanian Standards
The Tasmanian Standards below detail the legal requirements for the correct identification of identifiable livestock, including the use of NLIS devices, brands and earmarks.
Standards Identification of Sheep (PDF 783Kb)
Standards Identification of Goats (PDF 158Kb)
Standards Identification of Cattle (PDF 783Kb)
Standards Identification of Pigs (PDF 162Kb)
Can I remove a NLIS tag?
No. It is an offence to remove a NLIS accredited tag from an animal and apply another tag. If an animal has lost a tag and is no longer on its PIC of birth, tag the animal with a NLIS accredited (pink) post-breeder device.
What equipment will livestock owners need?
Access to eID tag readers (handheld or panel) is beneficial for:
moving stock between different PIC’s that you run stock on
buying stock privately or direct from another producer
utilising with software to store and analyse data to inform management practices.
EID tag readers are available for hire at Service Tasmania centres.
Sheep and Goat eID Rebate
The grant rebate scheme was established to support sheep and goat owners transition from visual tags and the mob-based approach to eID relevant to the introduction of the new
Biosecurity (Livestock Traceability) Regulations 2024. Nationally, all states and territories are working towards harmonisation of sheep and goats traceability.
To be eligible for the rebate, you must:
have an active Property Identification Code (PIC)
be authorised by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania to order and use NLIS sheep and goat permanent identifier devices on a PIC
own or manage sheep or goats
agree to only purchase eligible devices that are reasonably required to tag your stock in accordance with the year of birth colour scheme or to manage post breeder or yellow colour breeder management requirements in the current year
agree not to stockpile tags
agree to comply with your legislative obligations to make record movements to the NLIS.
Eligible sheep and goat owners will automatically receive a rebate on the purchase of NLIS accredited eID from their supplier until 3 April 2026. The rebate is:
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania formed an agreement with the following manufacturers to rebate eligible eID. These manufacturers supply to resellers that will promote the rebate at the point-of-sale.
Allflex Australia
Datamars
Leader Products
Enduro Tags
Shearwell
eID Tag Rebate Scheme Guidelines (PDF 102Kb)
On-farm benefits of eID
In addition to the benefits of eID for traceability through the supply chain, eID has other on-farm benefits related to breeding and management. These benefits include individual animal management where the performance of individual animals can be measured to influence management decisions including breeding for improved wool and meat production, reproduction, selective drenching and stocktake.
Your rural supplier can provide you with information about eID scanning equipment that allows for data to be gathered to provides insight into genetics, reproduction, parasite control, stocktake and general animal management.
Branding, earmarks and tattoos
The Primary Produce Traceability Program compiles and maintains a register of:
An application must be made to register or transfer ownership of an earmark, brand or pig tattoo.
Application to Register Earmarks and Brands (PDF 187Kb)
Application to Transfer Earmarks and Brands (PDF 135Kb)
Pigs - Body Tattoo:
Pigs over 25 kg can be identified with either a registered tattoo brand or an approved NLIS device before leaving a property.
Note that pigs 25 kg or under can only be identified with an approved NLIS device and must be tagged before leaving a property.
Sheep and cattle earmarking:
This practice is optional but if earmarks are used, they must be registered. Please note that earmarks are registered to a person (owner) and not to a property or property identification code (PIC).
Sheep and cattle must be earmarked before they reach 6 months of age with an earmark that is registered. The earmark must be applied to the near (or left) ear of male stock and the far (or right) ear of female stock.
Sheep and cattle body branding:
This practice is optional but if body brands are used they must be registered.
Body brands of other designs registered before 1 July 1986 continue to be registered, but may not be transferred to another person.
Horse body branding:
Instruments for earmarking and tattooing:
These instruments may be ordered from a rural merchandising store or pig marketing cooperative after the mark is registered.
It is possible to buy second-hand earmark applicators and have the right to use them and the ownership of the earmark transferred. Before buying, check with the Primary Produce Traceability Program to ensure that the earmark applicator can be legally transferred.
Penalties:
- Failure to correctly body tattoo pigs before they leave a property for sale or slaughter could result in a penalty of up to $1000. Penalties of up to $500 apply for the inappropriate use of registered earmarks and body brands.