eID: the deadline is not the whole job
eID: the deadline is not the whole job
By Travis Tobin, CEO, Livestock SA
[as published in the Stock Journal]
A date in the calendar can establish a legal obligation. It cannot, by itself, deliver the livestock traceability system our industry needs.
Calls to delay the 1 January 2027 sheep and goat eID deadline by two years have reignited debate over cost, readiness and fairness.
Those concerns should not be dismissed. Nor should they obscure the investment South Australian producers, governments and the supply chain have already made to prepare for the transition.
eID is about more than tags. It strengthens our ability to respond to emergency animal diseases, minimise disruption to livestock movements and protect valuable export market access.
In South Australia, sheep and farmed goats born from 1 January 2025 require an accredited eID tag before leaving their property of birth. From 1 January 2027, all sheep and farmed goats leaving a property must carry one, regardless of age.
Livestock SA supports better traceability, subject to practical implementation, fair cost sharing, national consistency and supply chain accountability. Those principles have not changed.
Two tasks must be distinguished. Tagging new lambs and kids steadily builds the system. Re-tagging older animals already carrying compliant visual tags creates a once off transition cost, additional labour and handling.
Our position remains that producers should not bear the cost of re-tagging animals already legally identified. Targeted government assistance should address that cost.
South Australia’s substantial assistance deserves recognition. That support has helped many businesses, but it does not eliminate every cost or operational challenge.
The national database upgrade also requires clear communication. NLIS 2.0 has a revised target of late 2027, subject to successful testing. Integrity Systems says the existing database can support the rollout.
That assurance is welcome. Producers will also want to understand how the transition will be managed, what support is available and what arrangements apply if technical problems affect their ability to comply.
Readiness cannot be measured just in tags sold. Accurate scanning at saleyards and processors, timely movement recording, compatible interstate processes and dependable data are essential.
Producers should not face penalties arising from failures elsewhere in the supply chain. While system readiness issues remain, education and practical support should take priority over enforcement, with clear responsibilities for everyone involved.
A blanket delay also carries risks, particularly if uncertainty discourages continued tagging of new lambs and kids, creating another retrospective tagging problem. We should preserve progress while resolving outstanding issues, with clear responsibilities and timelines.
The opportunity extends beyond biosecurity. Linking animals to carcases and returning useful feedback can support better breeding and management decisions. Delivering those benefits requires investment and cooperation beyond the farm gate.
Not every business will use eID as an on-farm management tool. All should benefit from a traceability system that works.
Producers should continue planning against current legal requirements. Livestock SA will keep pressing governments and industry to deliver their side of the bargain.
This is not a choice between stronger biosecurity and fair treatment of producers. A credible rollout must deliver both. Producer confidence will come from practical delivery across the whole system, not simply repeated reminders about the deadline.
Success will not be measured by tags fitted or a deadline reached. It will be judged by whether the system protects our industry, maintains market confidence and earns producers’ trust.