Cattle
Cattle Identification and Traceability is a vital part of disease control. In the event of a disease outbreak, it is important that movements can be traced easily from birth to 
death.
To ensure this level of traceability is achieved, all cattle are required to be correctly identified and issued with a corresponding passport in accordance with current legislation which is set by the European Commission.
The latest version (August 2011) of the Cattle Keepers Handbook is now available on the Rural Payments Agency website, and replaces the one issued to all keepers in 2007. This provides an easy reference to details on cattle identification and traceability, and includes changes made to the rules which came into force on 6 April 2007.
A quick reference guide to the tagging and tracing of cattle is also available.
Current Legislation
The EC requirements are enforced in Great Britain through:
The Cattle Identification (Scotland) Regulations 2007 (SSI 174/2007)
Movement restrictions on cattle born or reared in the UK before August 1996
All cattle born or reared in the UK before 1 August 1996 are subject to movement restrictions as an extra precaution against meat from these older cattle entering the food chain (milk from such animals can be sold for human consumption). Further iInformation is available on movement restrictions on cattle born or reared in the UK before August 1996 on the AHVLA website.
Cattle born or reared in the UK before 1 August 1996 are permanently excluded from the food chain and it is illegal to send them for slaughter for human consumption. At the end of their productive lives, they must be treated in the same way as fallen cattle.