The National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) is Australia’s scheme for the identification and tracing of livestock. NLIS enhances Australia's ability to respond quickly to a major food safety or disease incident in order that access to key export markets is maintained. It is a key industry initiative in partnership with governments across Australia.

NLIS Cattle was introduced in NSW on 1 July 2004 and involves electronic identification of cattle and centralised recording of movements on a national database. NLIS Cattle uses approved NLIS ear devices or rumen boluses and reporting all movements of cattle between properties with different Property Identification Codes (PICs).

NLIS Sheep & Goats is Australia's system for identifying and tracing sheep, lambs and farmed goats and was introduced on 1 January 2006. It uses visually readable ear tags printed with a Property Identification Code (PIC). It is complemented by movement documents supplied by consignors that are used for identification and tracking.

Schools must comply with the NLIS regulations.

• All properties or places where cattle, sheep or goats are held must have a Property Identification Code (PIC). A PIC is obtained from your Rural Lands Protection Board.
• All cattle must be identified with NLIS approved devices (either an ear device or rumen bolus). Devices must be applied at the birth property and need only to be replaced if lost or damaged.
• All cattle movements must be recorded on the NLIS database (movements for sale, show, slaughter, agistment or to a different property for any reason). Cattle moved directly to a saleyard or abattoir, are recorded by the saleyard or abattoir operator.
• All sheep and goats movements must be accompanied by an approved movement document, a Sheep Health statement, a Travelling Stock Statement or a National Vendor Declaration.
• All sheep and goats will have to be tagged after 1 January 2009.
• Tags have to be of durable plastic and have the PIC machine printed on them.
• There are some exemptions to the tagging of sheep and goats. These can be found at the Department of Primary Industries website NLIS Sheep and Goats: basic information.

For more details go to:

NSW Department of Primary Industries:National Livestock Identification Scheme (NLIS)

NSW DPI toll-free helpline: 1300 720 405

Meat and Livestock Australia

NLIS Database Helpdesk:  1800 654 743