Cattle Identification Regulations 2007
What this means for your business
- Enforced by
- APHA
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 4 compliance obligations, 6 practical guides
What you must do
4 compliance obligations under this legislation — 4 can result in imprisonment.
Offences and prohibitions 4
Corporate and officer liability for cattle ID offences
2 years imprisonmentIf your company breaches any of the Cattle Identification Regulations and the breach was done with the consent, connivance, or negligence of a director, manager, secretary or anyone acting in a similar role, both the company and that individual can be prosecuted. This means the business and the responsible officer are jointly liable for the same penalties that apply to the underlying offence.
Fail to comply with cattle movement restriction notice
2 years imprisonmentIf an APHA officer serves you (the keeper of cattle) a notice that restricts the movement of cattle to or from your holding, you must obey it. Ignoring or breaching that notice makes you guilty of a criminal offence, which can lead to prosecution and a fine or prison term as set by the courts.
Fail to notify cattle holding details
2 years imprisonmentIf you start keeping cattle on a holding, or you take over a holding where cattle are kept, you must tell the Secretary of State their name, address and the holding's address within one month, and you must also report any changes within one month. Failing to do either is a criminal offence. A conviction can lead to a fine and/or imprisonment, although the exact limits are set elsewhere in the regulations.
Obstruct or mislead officials enforcing cattle identification
2 years imprisonmentIf you deliberately hinder a regulator, refuse to give reasonable help or information, give false or misleading information, or refuse to produce required documents when asked, you commit a criminal offence under the Cattle Identification Regulations. Conviction can lead to a fine and/or a prison term, depending on how the courts decide. Business owners in the livestock sector should ensure staff cooperate fully with inspectors and provide accurate records.
Penalties for non-compliance
4 penalties under this legislation. 4 can result in imprisonment. 4 carry an unlimited fine.
Corporate and officer liability for cattle ID offences
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Fail to comply with cattle movement restriction notice
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Fail to notify cattle holding details
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Obstruct or mislead officials enforcing cattle identification
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
Comply with livestock movement standstill periods
Legal requirements for standstill periods after livestock arrive on your holding. Covers standstill lengths by species, exemptions, and penalties for …
Identify and tag livestock correctly
Legal requirements for identifying and tagging cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and deer. Includes species-specific tagging deadlines, tag specifications, passport requirements, …
Report livestock movements and comply with standstill rules
How to report cattle, sheep, goat, pig, and deer movements using government traceability systems. Includes reporting deadlines, standstill periods, and …
Keep holding registers for livestock
Legal requirements for recording livestock identification, movements, births, deaths, and annual inventories. Covers cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and deer with …
Register land to keep livestock
How to obtain a County Parish Holding (CPH) number before keeping cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, or poultry. Includes registration process, …
Meet bovine TB testing requirements for cattle
Comprehensive guide to bovine TB testing requirements for UK cattle farmers. Covers testing frequency by risk area (HRA, Edge, LRA), …
Sections and provisions
18 classified provisions from this legislation.