LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

Since the Foot and Mouth outbreak in 2001, certain rules have been introduced by the EU and by DEFRA in England ( www.defra.gov.uk ) and equivalent departments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The rules and departments are constantly changing so check if unsure. Goats are classified as farm animals and the following rules apply even if a small number of goats are kept in a back garden in the middle of a town.

1. A county parish holding (CPH) number or Location Code (Scotland) is required to identify the land where your goats are kept. This is free and can be obtained from rural payments departments i.e. RPA (England) , RPW (Wales) and SCRIPID (Scotland).

2. A movement licence is required before a goat can be moved from one place to another. In England movements must be reported to the Animal Reporting and Movement Service (ARAMS). In Wales the EIDCymru system and AML1 forms are in use. In Scotland movements should be reported to the Scottish Animal Movement Unit (SAMU). A copy of the licence must accompany the goats during the movement. Copies of the forms can be printed or self -copying 4 page documents can be obtained from central locations such as markets, some abattoirs or larger showgrounds. The forms should be started by the keeper of the animal and extra signatures and contact details added. The top copy (white) must be returned to the office
specified on the form within 3 days of the movement, one copy (pink) must travel with the animal and be kept by the receiver, a third (blue) should be retained by
the haulier and the fourth (yellow) should be retained by the owner of the holding of departure. Visits to the vet do not require a movement licence, although these should be recorded in the Movement Book.

3. All animals must be identified by earmarks i.e. eartags or tattoo, or pastern tags, showing a herd mark and an individual identification number. It is the responsibility of the seller or owner to ensure that this is done. The herd mark of birth will be used initially. If one or both tags are lost, they can be replaced using ‘replica’ tags showing the original number. Alternatively new, red replacement tags may be purchased showing the herd mark of the current owner. The herd mark/number is a unique number, which you can obtain from your local Animal and Plant Heath Agency (APHA) office.

4. A Movement Book must be kept, recording every movement of individual animals onto or from your holding. These books can be purchased or a printable and electronic (Microsoft Excel) version of the register can be downloaded from the DEFRA website. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sheep-and-goat-keepers-how-to-keep-a-holding-register 

An annual inventory must be submitted to DEFRA, EIDCymru orScotEID.

5. Medicine records must be kept.