Electronic ID for Cattle mandatory in step forward for UK biosecurity

2nd June 2025

Changes introduced to cattle identification, registration, and reporting for cattle in England.

Cattle identification and traceability in England will change over the next 2 years, in a major step forward in disease control and trade across the farming sector, Defra has announced today (Monday 2 June).

From Summer 2026, Defra will introduce changes to cattle identification, registration and reporting that will improve the government's ability to respond effectively to disease. These changes will also simplify regulations and support industry to boost productivity, food security and international trade.

New requirements will see Electric ID (EID) mandatory for all new-born calves from 2027, using low frequency (LF) technology. This means animals with eID eartags are able to be scanned when animals are moved, rather than a visual read and manual input of the tag number. Electronic cattle traceability will strengthen the UK's ability to prevent, detect, and respond to animal disease outbreaks, protecting farmers and the rural economy.

This will be supported by a new cattle movement reporting system which will be easier to use for farmers, markets, abattoirs and regulators alike. This will simplify existing regulations and support the livestock industry to boost productivity, food security and international trade.

This comes as the government announced a £200 million investment in the UK's main research and laboratory testing facilities at Weybridge to bolster protection against animal disease, and the recent announcement that livestock farmers in England can apply for a series of free annual vet visits on farm to check for diseases and receive biosecurity recommendations and tailored animal health and welfare advice.

Biosecurity Minister, Baroness Hayman said:
This is a significant milestone in modernising how we manage cattle health, welfare and traceability in England.

These reforms strike the right balance in supporting farmers with clearer, simpler rules while helping the sector strengthen its productivity, resilience and global competitiveness.

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Christine Middlemiss said:
Electronic identification is a game-changer for disease traceability. It allows for faster, more accurate tracking of cattle movements, which is crucial in responding to outbreaks and maintaining our high biosecurity standards.

This shift puts England in step with best global practice and today's early confirmation will provide the livestock industry the clarity it needs to begin preparing now — ensuring that the right tags, readers and systems are available at scale ahead of rollout.

Defra will also take a more proportionate approach to enforcement, which will give keepers the opportunity to correct issues before further action is considered, as part of a broader move to reduce red tape while strengthening biosecurity.

Following the wide-reaching sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) deal recently agreed at the UK-EU summit, this decision will further benefit livestock businesses in England by reducing trade friction and boosting their ability to export agri-food products abroad.

Today's changes follow the UK Government’s Cattle Identification Consultation 2023 which has been published today, which signalled strong industry support for the measures introduced.

Scotland
In Scotland, cattle identification is a mandatory process to ensure traceability for disease control, public health, and other reasons. All cattle born after 1 January 1998 must be double-tagged with approved ear tags, a primary and a secondary tag, in each ear. Additionally, there's a push towards electronic identification (EID) for cattle in Scotland, with the aim of introducing Ultra High Frequency (UHF) EID by the end of 2026.

Ear Tags:
Approved ear tags must be fitted in each ear of all cattle born after 1 January 1998. Dairy calves must have at least one tag within 36 hours of birth and the second within 20 days of birth. Beef cattle need a tag in each ear within 20 days of birth or before movement if that's before 20 days old.

Double Tagging:
All cattle must be double-tagged, meaning a primary and a secondary tag in each ear, to meet legal requirements and ensure traceability.

Electronic Identification (EID):
The Scottish Government has been supporting industry-led pilots for bovine EID using Ultra High Frequency (UHF) technology. The Scottish Government has announced that UHF EID will be introduced by the end of 2026.

Traceability System:
The ScotEID system is used for cattle births, deaths, and movement recording, and is a key part of the transition towards EID.

Timing:
All cattle leaving a holding must have both tags fitted before they leave. Legible or lost ear tags must be replaced within 28 days of noticing the damage or loss.

Notifications:
Births must be notified to ScotEID within seven days of tagging. Imported cattle from within the EU but outside Great Britain must be notified to ScotEID within 15 days of arrival.

PHOTO
Piemontese Cattle from farmer Keith Dunnet at Achorn Farm, Keiss, Caithness in 2015