NLIS

NLIS Tags & Livestock Identification

Make the most of Australia’s National Livestock Identification System

The National Livestock Identification System, or NLIS, is Australia’s system for identifying and tracing cattle, sheep and goats. It helps protect Australia’s clean, green reputation, supports biosecurity and food safety, and gives Australian producers a competitive edge in global markets.

For producers, NLIS is not optional — it is compulsory. But it can also be a powerful tool for better livestock management.

How NLIS Works

NLIS combines three key things:

A Property Identification Code, known as a PIC
An approved NLIS tag or device
Records stored on the NLIS database

As livestock are bought, sold or moved, their movement is recorded on the NLIS database. This creates a traceability record that helps track animals from property of birth through the supply chain.

For cattle, this is done through individual electronic identification. For sheep and farmed goats, national eID requirements now apply. From 1 January 2025, sheep and farmed goats born on or after this date must be fitted with an approved NLIS eID device before leaving their property of birth.

Why NLIS Matters

NLIS helps protect:

Australia’s livestock industries
Producer livelihoods
Export market access
Animal health and biosecurity
Food safety and traceability

In the event of a disease outbreak, chemical residue issue or biosecurity threat, accurate traceability helps authorities respond faster and limit the impact on producers and industry.

A Brief History of NLIS

NLIS was first introduced for cattle in 1999 and later expanded to include sheep and goats. It is now a key part of Australia’s livestock traceability system.

The need for accurate livestock traceability grew after major international and domestic food safety events, including BSE, chemical residue incidents and increasing export market requirements.

Today, NLIS plays an important role in proving the integrity of Australian red meat and livestock products.