The Western Australian government has confirmed the mandatory electronic identification (eID) system for sheep and goats will be fully operational from July 1, 2026. From this date, all sheep and goats must be fitted with an accredited eID tag before leaving any property. To facilitate the transition, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has extended its tag subsidy scheme and will host a series of regional information sessions for producers.
Operational Mandates and Compliance
The Australia-wide eID system is designed to enhance traceability and biosecurity, enabling a rapid response in the event of an emergency animal disease or food safety incident. All livestock movements must be recorded in the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database. The mandate is expected to strengthen market confidence and support domestic and international trade access.
Since the program’s commencement in WA, over 10 million sheep and goats have been fitted with eID tags, including approximately 5.5 million lambs tagged in 2025. Operators must ensure only one functional eID is applied per animal. For older stock requiring new pink or yellow eID tags, these must be applied to the same ear as any existing visual tag, which should not be removed.
Financial Assistance and Tagging Protocols
DPIRD has extended the Tag Incentive Payment (TIP) scheme for a fourth year to reduce the financial impact of compliance on operators. The scheme provides a 60-cent discount per NLIS-accredited eID tag.
Eligibility for the subsidy has been expanded to include:
* Orange 2026 year-of-birth tags
* Pink and yellow eID tags for older stock born before January 1, 2025
Regional Support and Information Sessions
DPIRD will host a series of drop-in information sessions across the agricultural region to assist operators with the transition. Department staff will be available from 9am to 4pm to provide technical guidance on accessing NLIS accounts, uploading livestock movement data, and using eID scanning equipment.
The first scheduled sessions will be held at:
* Wandering CRC (April 1)
* Coorow CRC (April 16)
* Boyup Brook CRC (April 22)
* Nungarin CRC (May 13)
Producers can also contact the DPIRD sheep and goat eID hotline on 1300 926 547 on weekdays for further assistance.
The WAAA News Team
