The Tasmanian Government has unveiled $11.66 million in funding to assist primary producers in transitioning to a new electronic identification system by 1 January 2025.
The financial package aims to enhance supply chain infrastructure and offer discounts on tags for livestock producers. It includes:
- Rebates of up to 75% of costs for eID scanning infrastructure for eligible supply chain participants (processors, saleyards, transit yards).
- Rebates of up to 100% of costs for eID scanning equipment for eligible agricultural societies and not-for-profit groups.
- Rebates of up to 100% of costs for handheld eID scanning devices for eligible producers.
- Producers will also be eligible for a rebate of $1 per eID ear tag and $4 per eID goat leg band.
The infrastructure funding can be obtained through a grant scheme, with a rebate applied at the point of sale for tags.
Minister for Primary Industries and Water Jo Palmer said Australia is working to implement mandatory ID tagging for sheep and goats by 1 January 2025.
Minister Palmer noted that eIDs are a vital, on-farm and off-farm tool designed to assist in traceability.
“Tasmania is fortunate to have some of the world’s best produce. Traceability is important for biosecurity, product integrity and maintaining market access advantages and consumer confidence,” Minister Palmer stated.
“In the event of an emergency animal disease outbreak or incident, it is critical that animal location and movements can be traced quickly to limit the spread of disease and reduce impacts,” the Minister added. “eIDs will further protect Tasmania’s agricultural industries.”
According to her, the State Government is dedicated to supporting the meat industry and enhancing monitoring and tracing efforts within the sector.
Two industry advisory groups in Tasmania are providing industry feedback on developing and implementing Tasmania’s sheep and goat eID, involving representatives from the industry supply chains to ensure a collaborative rollout.
The State Government aims to sustainably increase Tasmanian agriculture’s farm gate value to $10 billion by 2050 through initiatives and tools supporting the meat industry.
