Minister Muir urges camelid and cervid keepers to act as new rules are introduced
Date published:
New identification, registration and record-keeping rules are being introduced in Northern Ireland for the keeping of camelid and cervid animals, including alpacas, llamas and deer.
The new requirements, which will strengthen animal traceability and disease protection will apply to all camelid and cervid keepers, including those keeping only small numbers of animals.
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said: “Effective traceability is essential to protect animal health and welfare in Northern Ireland. These new measures will help prevent and manage disease outbreaks, while ensuring keepers have clear and consistent rules to follow.
“Registration is simple and free, and I strongly encourage all camelid and cervid keepers to act now and complete registration well ahead of the deadline.”
Under the new rules, everyone keeping camelids and cervids must:
- register their establishments with DAERA;
- identify animals using DAERA‑approved devices within nine months of birth or before they leave the holding of birth; and
- keep records for at least three years.
As the requirements are entirely new for camelid and cervid keepers, they are being introduced on a phased basis. All keepers must be registered by 30 September 2026 and start keeping records from this date, with animal identification requirements becoming mandatory from 4 January 2027.
The new measures are required under the European Union Animal Health Law (AHL) and apply in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.
DAERA officials have worked with industry stakeholders, including representative groups and societies and local camelid and cervid businesses, to support implementation. A communication campaign is being rolled out to raise awareness of the obligations and key deadlines.
Notes to editors:
- Unlike other livestock species, there have previously been no statutory requirements in Northern Ireland for registering, identifying or keeping records for camelids and cervids. DAERA previously operated a voluntary registration process under the now‑repealed EU Balai Directive for those involved in the export of these animals.
- The introduction of these requirements will support disease control measures in Northern Ireland. Accurate information on animal locations will assist DAERA, and keepers, in protecting camelids and cervids from Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB), as well as other disease outbreaks such as Foot and Mouth Disease, to which camelids and cervids are susceptible as cloven‑hoofed animals.
- Registration is simple and FREE via the DAERA website: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/services/register-equine-and-other-non-farm-animal-establishments
- Alternatively a paper AGN application form can be downloaded from: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/animal-group-number-application Completed forms should be returned to any DAERA Direct Office.
- Follow DAERA on X formerly called Twitter and Facebook.
- All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk or telephone: 028 9016 3460.
- The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours’ service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.