The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has announced a temporary suspension of the authorisation of new and replacement cattle tags from Saturday 10 June to Monday 12 June.

Farmers should ensure that they have an adequate supply of new tags for any calves to be tagged and registered over this specific weekend.

The move is to facilitate the implementation of the first phase of the new Northern Ireland Food Animal Information System (NIFAIS) database.

From 12pm on Saturday 10 June until 9am on Monday 12 June, tag manufacturers will not be able to seek authorisation from DAERA to produce new or replacement cattle tags.

Farmers are also advised to check that all animals to be moved off farm between these dates are double-tagged and purchase replacement tags in advance if required. The authorisation of sheep tags will not be affected.

The NIFAIS database is being developed to replace the current APHIS database.

Tag manufacturers currently contact DAERA’s Animal and Public Health Information System (APHIS) requesting authorisation to produce both new and replacement tags.

From 12 June onwards, the authorisation of cattle tag will transfer from APHIS to NIFAIS. Development of NIFAIS is being completed and released in stages with a full roll-out expected in 2019.

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