Northern Ireland identification tag codes have changed, from ‘UK’ to ‘XI’, and a further Press Release has issued today confirming the switchover date when use of the new code becomes mandatory.

DAERA has announced that the switchover date, when ‘UK’ prefix livestock tags can no longer be used, has been extended to 30th June 2025. From that date only ‘XI’ prefix tags can be used on newborn cattle, sheep and goats.

Following the introduction of the new ‘XI’ tags on 24 June 2024, DAERA is now overseeing the transition of the NI agriculture industry from identifying animals with ‘UK’ prefixed tags to using ‘XI’ prefixed tags for all newborn animals in a phased way, and there is currently a transition period before the use of the new code becomes mandatory on 30th June 2025. During this period, it will be possible for keepers to tag newborn animals with either old stocks of ‘UK’ tags, or the new ‘XI’ tags.

DAERA, however, continues to recommend that ‘XI’ prefixed tags are applied to all newborn animals, particularly if it is likely that the animal will be exported in the future, otherwise they may have to be re-identified prior to export.

DAERA will continue to provide further relevant information to livestock keepers and industry over the coming months in the run up to the switchover date of 30 June 2025.

Further information is also available on the DAERA Website, including a set of Q&A’s.

If there are any additional queries, not covered in the Q&A’s on the website, please forward these to FarmedAnimals.IRM@daera-ni.gov.uk