What is NLIS?

The National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) is Australia's system for identifying and tracking beef and dairy cattle, as well as sheep and goats. The Victorian Government and livestock industry organisations have agreed to work together to fully implement the NLIS so that consumers in Australia and overseas can have confidence in our beef, sheep meat and dairy products. The NLIS enables animals to be reliably identified and tracked from their property of birth to slaughter, protecting the reputation of Victoria's livestock industries.

Order Sheep & Goats Electronic Tags Online Back to NLIS Home Page

Why is the NLIS (Sheep & Goats) needed? Victoria's live sheep and sheep meat exports have increased from $248 million in 1997/98 to $448 million in 2004/05. This makes Victoria Australia's leading exporter of sheep meat. The NLIS (Sheep & Goat) is needed to enhance Australia's ability to quickly and successfully access key domestic and export markets. Background The NLIS (Sheep & Goats) was introduced using visual ear tags on the 1st January, 2006. All properties running sheep and/or farmed goats are now required to have a Property Identification Code (PIC). As of the 1st January, 2009 new changes to how the NLIS (sheep & goats) operates nationally come into force. It is now a requirement that all sheep and farmed goats must be identified with an NLIS Sheep Breeder or Post Breeder tag before being dispatched to another property or saleyard regardless of the age of the animal. The exemption that has been in place for sheep & goats consigned directly to an abattoir on an 'over the hooks' basis has also been revoked, meaning all sheep & goats sold in this manner must now be tagged. There has been national agreement that the exemption for dairy breed goats, and also feral goats going direct to slaughter remain in place and be reviewed some time in the future. From the 28th November, 2007, electronic NLIS (Sheep) Tags were made available to sheep and goats producers as an alternative to the visual NLIS ear tags. The use of electronic NLIS (Sheep) Tags is a voluntary program, offering interested producers the option to make use of this exciting new technology for both traceability and on farm uses.