With the date for mandatory electronic identification (eID) for sheep and farmed goats fast approaching, the State Government has invested $10.2m into a range of assistance measures to ensure producers have the best tools for a successful transition.


All sheep and farmed goats born on or after January 1, 2025 will need to be identified with a National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) accredited eID tag before leaving their property of birth.


Older sheep and farmed goats can be voluntarily eID tagged now, but tagging these animals prior to leaving the property will not be mandatory until January 1, 2027.


From next year, producers who bring eID tagged animals onto their property directly from another property (P2P movements) will need to record individual animal transfers on the NLIS database.


Producers will not need to record stock movements if buying or selling at a saleyard – the saleyard operator is responsible for this transfer.


Similarly, producers do not need to record stock movements that are consigned to a processor -the processor is responsible for this transfer.


The State Government is working with the Commonwealth and industry to transition to the national eID system and there are a number of discount and rebate programs available to assist.


The South Australian Government’s support measures include:


• The Point-of-Sale Tag Discount Scheme provides sheep and farmed goat producers to receive a $0.95 discount for NLIS accredited eID tags at the time of purchase (black tags in 2024 and white tags in 2025), allowing sheep and farmed goat producers to access this support in a fast and convenient way. Ends 30 June 2025.


• The Expanded eID Device Rebate (2023-2025) allows sheep and farmed goat producers to apply for 50% rebate up to a cap of $0.95 (GST exclusive) for NLIS accredited eID tags purchased between 1 January 2023 and 30 June 2025 that are not aligned to the NLIS year-of-birth colour system. Closes 30 June 2025.


• The Sheep and Goat eID Implementation Essential Equipment and Infrastructure Rebate (Saleyards and Processors) provides support of up to 75% rebate of the cost of essential equipment and infrastructure required by saleyards and processor to implement eID. This scheme is in recognition that saleyards and processors are facing upfront costs to transition to electronic recording of the movement of sheep and farmed goats ahead of the transition to the new national traceability system. Closes 30 June 2025.


• The Sheep and Goat eID Implementation Essential Equipment Rebate (Producers) is available to SA producers to assist with costs for essential equipment required to record and notify property to property movements to the NLIS database. Eligible applicants can apply for a 75% rebate on the cost of purchasing essential equipment. The maximum rebate amount depends on the head movements onto your property directly from another property each year for the past three years:


– up to $500 for movements of 100 or less head of animals annually


– up to $2000 for movements of between 101 and 5000 head of animals annually


– up to $20,000 for movements of more than 5000 head of animals annually.


• The Sheep and Goat eID Implementation Essential Equipment Rebate (Agents) is to assist South Australian livestock agents with the purchase cost of essential equipment required to notify stock movements under the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS). Agents can apply for a 75% rebate to a maximum of $7000 (ex GST) for the cost of essential equipment including pocket reader, stick reader or wand, mobile panel reader and the scanner component of a weigh crate. Closes 30 June 2025.


• The eID Advantage Program is an additional $900,000 State Government investment to assist with education and improving producer knowledge on changing responsibilities for identifying and moving sheep and farmed goats. The program will deliver targeted training to support eID implementation and increase confidence in the use of eID technology and includes up-skilling workshops for producers and stock agents, and face-to-face training sessions to build understanding of eID tags, technology and how to use the NLIS database.


For further information on all eID implementation support programs visit pir.sa.gov.au/eid.


Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven said electronic identification for sheep and farmed goats will ensure we have the best possible traceability system, which is crucial to protecting our $2.96b livestock industry in the event of an outbreak of an emergency animal disease such as foot and mouth disease (FMD).


“The State Government has committed significant funding to assist South Australia with the transition to the national system, including the $9.3m package which was announced in the budget last year and the additional $900,000 for the eID Advantage Program,” she said.


“For many producers, the only change will be going from a visual tag to an electronic tag. For others there will a few more things to consider, which is why the State Government has a range of support available.”