Veterinary - Animal Disease Traceability

USDA Amends Traceability Regulations for Certain Cattle and Bison Moving Interstate

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), amended a 2013 rule to put in place technology to facilitate rapid response to foreign animal diseases.

What does EID and RFID stand for? 

RFID: Radio Frequency ID

EID: Electronic ID

These tags are also commonly referred to as an “840 tag”

What is different about this amendment than the 2013 rule?

The only difference from the 2013 rule is that official ID tags applied after November 05, 2024 will need to be electronically readable in addition to the tag number being visible on the tag.

What cattle are impacted by this amendment?

The new amendment covers the same classes of animals impacted by the 2013 ADT rule.

Cattle tagged after November 05, 2024

Cattle travelling interstate (crossing state lines)

Dairy cattle of any age

Beef cattle 18 months or older and sexually intact

Cattle of any age used for rodeo, exhibition, or recreational events

What about animals already tagged with a Brite tag?

A NUES tag (Brite tag) will be recognized as official ID for the life of the animal if the tag was applied before November 05, 2024.

Why did USDA amend the traceability rule to include EID?

APHIS believes that electronic ID will be critical to safeguard animal health and increase accuracy of animal movement records during an outbreak of a foreign animal disease. Quickly being able to determine where animals are and where they have been will decrease the amount of producers impacted by a disease outbreak and get cattle and commerce moving again as efficiently as possible.

How much will EID tags cost?

EID tags are currently available at no cost to producers through the State Veterinarian’s office

EID tags can also be purchased directly from manufacturers

To order EID tags in North Carolina

Please call us at (919) 707-3250 or send an email to ncfarmid@ncagr.gov.

For more information on NC Farm ID please visit our website: NC FARM ID

Additional Information

One-page printable reference document with FAQs from NCDA: Factsheet EID ADT rule

One-page printable flow chart/decision tree: Do my cows need RFID?  

For more information on animal disease traceability, please visit the USDA website: Traceability

USDA factsheet on ADT: Myth Busters: The Facts About Animal Disease Traceability

USDA FAQs on ADT: Frequently Asked Questions: Animal Disease Traceability Rule