Biosecurity practices for animal health: guidance

Traceability

• there are legal requirements for the registration of all livestock and premises, animal identification, breeding and movement records. Rapid traceability is important for effective disease control
• keepers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, poultry and farmed deer must be registered and their animals identified in accordance with the law, even if only one animal is kept
• vehicles and people can spread disease. Veterinary investigations into notifiable disease would be greatly assisted by records of visitors and deliveries

Identification and Movements Legislation

Keepers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, poultry and farmed deer must be registered and their animals identified in accordance with the law, even if only one animal is kept. Further information on these requirements, as well as a source of Explanatory Booklets, can be obtained from the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA).

Cattle

Identification and movement records must be kept in accordance with the requirements of:

• The Cattle Identification (Scotland) Regulations 2007
• The Cattle Identification (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2007

Pigs and Wild Boar

Identification and movement records must be kept in accordance with the requirements of:

• The Pigs (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 1995
• The Disease Control (Interim Measures) (Scotland) Order 2002

Sheep and Goats

Identification and movement records must be kept in accordance with the requirements of:

• The Sheep and Goats (Identification & Traceability) (Scotland) Regulations 2006
• The Sheep & Goats (Identification & Traceability) (Scotland) Amendment (No 2) Regulations 2006

Deer

Deer must be identified as required by:

• The Tuberculosis (Deer) Order 1989

Poultry

Breeding flocks must be registered in accordance with the requirements of:

• The Poultry Breeding Flocks and Hatcheries Order 1993

Breeding flocks and hatcheries must be registered in accordance with the requirements of:

• Council Regulation (EEC) No 2782/75 on the production and marketing of eggs for hatching and of farmyard poultry chicks

Each month, all hatcheries must send to the Scottish Government details of the number of eggs set and the number of hatched chicks intended for actual sale as implemented by:

• The Eggs (Marketing Standards) Regulations 1995

Hatcheries must keep records in accordance with the requirements of:

• Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1868/77

And as implemented by:

• The Eggs (Marketing Standards) Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/1544) (as amended)

Up to date records must be kept regarding disease as stated by:

• The Diseases of Poultry Order 1994 (S.I. 1994/3141)

Establishments keeping laying hens must be registered in accordance with:

• Directive 2002/4/EC

Egg producers must keep up to date records in accordance with the requirements of:

• The Commission Regulation 1274/91 (EEC)

As implemented by:

• The Eggs (Marketing Standards) (Amendment) Regulations 1998

Eggs for human consumption shall be given a distinguishing number for traceability in accordance with the requirements of:

• The Eggs (Marketing Standards) (Amendment) Regulations 1998
• Council Directive 1999/74/EC

Which will be updated by:

• Directive 2002/4/EC from 2004 on the registration of establishments keeping laying hens

The registered number of the slaughter house or cutting plant is required to be indicated on the packaging of poultry for meat in accordance with Council Regulation 1906/90/EC.