The new system of online livestock records in NI is to be updated again in the autumn, a committee of MLAs has been told.

The first phase of the NI Food Animal Information System (NIFAIS) went live in September 2023 and led to significant disruption at local livestock marts and meat factories.

The new system is replacing the long-standing Animal Public Health Information System (APHIS) which has been in place since 1998.

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In a letter to Stormont’s agriculture committee, DAERA said that stage two of NIFAIS is now going through final testing and is expected to go live on 6 October 2025.

Declan McAleer from Sinn Féin pointed out that the expected release date is a Saturday, so the plan should be “rigorously communicated” to any marts that have sales on the day.

“I agree. There are a lot of big sales on Saturdays, and it could create havoc,” added the DUP’s William Irwin.