Electronic ID for cattle to become mandatory
4th June 2025
Defra has announced a “major step forward” in disease control and trade across the farming sector. The move will see the cattle identification and traceability in England being changed over the next two years.
From summer 2026, Defra will introduce changes to cattle identification, registration and reporting that are set to improve the government’s ability to respond effectively to disease.
The government said that 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 can 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, Defra explained.
This will be supported by a new cattle movement reporting system which is set to be easier to use for farmers, markets, abattoirs and regulators alike.
Defra confirmed that the system will simplify existing regulations and support the livestock industry to boost productivity, food security and international trade.
‘Game-changer for disease traceability’
Biosecurity minister, Baroness Hayman, called the news a “significant milestone” in modernising how England manages cattle health, welfare and traceability.
“These reforms strike the right balance in supporting farmers with clearer, simpler rules while helping the sector strengthen its productivity, resilience and global competitiveness,” the minister continued.
UK chief veterinary officer Dr Christine Middlemiss added: “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 said it 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, Defra concluded.
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