The Tasmanian Government is delivering robust measures that will protect the State's agricultural landscape through improved traceability of livestock and industry support to make this happen.
The new Biosecurity (Livestock Traceability) Regulations 2024, which provide the framework for livestock traceability requirements in Tasmania, begin on 1 January 2025.
Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Jane Howlett, said the Tasmanian Government recognises the importance biosecurity plays in our agriculture, aquaculture, and tourism industries and is committed to ensuring biosecurity regulations to protect our State.
"These regulations give consumers assurance that we can track where each animal has been from their property of birth to the abattoir should the need arise," Minister Howlett said.
"The regulations are supported by a set of new Tasmanian Standards for the Identification of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs.
"The new regulations cover key traceability reforms including the electronic Identification Device (eID) for sheep and goats and removal of the bobby calf eID tag exemption.
"From 1 January 2025, all bobby calves sent directly for processing from their property of birth, will be required to be individually identified with a cattle eID tag rather than a visual tag.
"Our Government is a big supporter of agriculture and as part of our 2030 Plan for Tasmania's Future we are delivering support to our farmers to comply with these new regulations.
"To assist the industry with this transition, the Tasmanian Government will establish an Industry Support Scheme where all bobby calves processed will have their tagging costs subsidised by $4.50 per animal for 12 months.
"Support also continues to be available for farmers, suppliers and livestock facilities for the mandatory electronic tagging of sheep and goats.
"All sheep and goats born on or after 1 January 2025 that move off property need to be electronically tagged."
The new regulations provide the framework for livestock traceability requirements in Tasmania, including property identification, livestock identification, and the reporting of livestock movements.
These measures will assist the Tasmanian Government to manage risks to our primary industries as we work towards achieving a farmgate value of $10 billion by 2050.
