Tagging and documentation for moving or selling livestock

Australia is a world leader in disease control and traceability of stock consigned for human consumption. To maintain this status, stock activity needs to be monitored.

The NLIS and NSW’s Property Identification Codes (PICs) mean we can identify and trace livestock movements to respond quickly to major food safety or disease incidents.

Local Land Services can help you understand your requirements for moving and selling stock and help you obtain the correct paperwork for your type of stock movement.

Australia’s stock monitoring system

To correctly move livestock, you must:

• have a PIC
• have a National Vendor Declaration and/or Transported Stock Statement form, and
• ensure all livestock have correct National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) tags in place.

The importance of livestock traceability

Tracking animal movements helps secure the livestock industry.

The benefits of livestock traceability include:

• disease control
• rapid response in a biosecurity emergency
• chemical residue tracking
• food safety and integrity
• market access
• consumer confidence.

Ready access to accurate movement records ensures our ability to:

• identify and isolate animals involved in disease outbreaks
• track chemical residues to guarantee the safety of our food products.

In the event of a disease outbreak, maintaining export markets relies heavily on our ability to quickly trace livestock movements to identify where the disease has been and where it could have spread.

Livestock movement documentation

All livestock movements must be accompanied by the appropriate documentation and meet the necessary NLIS requirements for monitoring and traceability.

Forms that may be required for moving stock include:

• transported stock statements
• national vendor declarations
• animal health statements
• stock permits.

National vendor declarations

National Vendor Declarations (NVDs) are required for any movement of stock to be sold to processors, saleyards or for private sales.

NVDs may also be used for movements of stock between properties with different PICs in place of a transported stock statement.

Producers must obtain NVD documents through Meat and Livestock Australia's Livestock Production Assurance scheme.

Transported stock statements

Transported stock statements (TSS) are required for any movement of stock where an NVD is not required (for example, moving stock for agistment between properties with the same PIC).

Read more about Transported Stock Statements.

Animal health statements

Animal health statements for cattle, sheep and goats are not mandatory in NSW. However they may be required for some stock movements, especially interstate or through certain saleyards.

As part of showground biosecurity and the management of animal health, agricultural show societies require exhibitors to complete a declaration on the health status of animals participating in shows.

Read more about animal health statements and show declarations on the Farm Biosecurity website.

Stock movement permits

There are four classes of stock movement permits as outlined under the Local Land Services Act 2013. Fees will vary for each of these permits.

• Walking stock permit
• Grazing stock permit
• Roadside grazing stock permit
• Annual stock movement permit

Find out more about stock permits.

National Livestock Identification System database

Whenever a livestock movement between properties of different PICs occurs, it must be recorded on the NLIS database.

The NLIS provides lifetime traceability of livestock through the collaboration of 3 key areas:

1. Identification of individual animal or mob – for example RFID tag, tattoo or brand.
2. Identification of land – the physical location of the animal according to the Property Identification Code (PIC)
3. Transfer and movement records stored and correlated on the NLIS database

The NLIS database must be updated for any movement, agistment or sale of sheep, goats and cattle. It is the responsibility of the receiver of the stock to ensure the movement has been uploaded within 2 days of stock arrival. 

For detailed information on these procedures call the NLIS hotline on 1800 683 111 or visit

Read more about the NLIS.

Responsibilities for stock movement notification

NLIS Tags

A NLIS tag is required when:

• livestock are exiting your property
• livestock are purchased and brought onto your property

To order your NLIS tags, visit your local rural supplies merchant. You will need to provide your PIC.

If you need to move your livestock before you’ve ordered or received your NLIS ear tags, please contact Local Land Services or advice and to obtain a permit to move without identifiers. Fees will apply.

NLIS database training

Local Land Services Animal Health Biosecurity Officers provide training workshops on the NLIS database at various locations in NSW.

Workshop topics include:

• Documentation to transport stock (NVD and TSS).
• Our National Livestock Identification System
• Using the NLIS database including:
  • Beast enquiry
  • Property to property transfers
  • Notifying database of deceased animals
  • Notifying database of replaced tags
  • PIC reconciliation.

Browse our events to find upcoming training, or contact us to express interest.

More information on livestock movements

Moving livestock requires preparing the animals for transport, ensuring all documentation is accurate, and following specific handling procedures to minimize stress and injury

Read more about transporting livestock.

Get up to date information from DPIRD Agriculture and Biosecurity Livestock movements including requirements for different species and moving stock into and out of NSW.