Official Animal Identification Requirements
Official Identification refers to devices approved by the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) and meet various standard for the identification of animals moving across state lines. Only identification that meets USDA standards count as official identification. There are several forms of official identification for each species of livestock and the need for the animal to be official identified depends on several factors including, species, age, use, and final destination.
For animals that require official identification to move across state lines the ID numbers must be recorded on the certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) that accompanies the animal or they may be typed onto an attached list.
The requirements that do not apply to livestock moving:
- Entirely within Tribal land that straddles a State line and the Tribe has a separate traceability system from the States in which its lands are located; or
- To a custom slaughter facility in accordance with Federal and State regulations for preparation of meat.
Other exemptions are applied on a species-specific basis.
All official ID tags must display USDA's US Shield for them to be considered official.
For additional information on official identification devices and requirements please visit USDA's
Approved Device List and the Codes of Federal Regulation 9 CFR 86, 9 CFR 71.19, and 9 CFR 79.
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