Community rules on the identification of sheep and goats were mainly reinforced after the experience gained with Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in 2001. The system, which was adopted in December 2003 and entered into force in July 2005 is based on the principle of individual traceability and includes the following elements:

• double identification before six months of age - two eartags or one eartag and a tattoo, mark on the pastern or electronic identifier
• maintaining an up-to-date register on each holding;
• a movement document for each movement of groups of animals;
• a central register of all holdings or computer database at national level.

Following the Report from the Commission COM(2007)711 electronic identification will be obligatory.