GovWire

You must:

• have a passport or other official identification document for all cattle you are responsible for
• apply for a cattle passport when a calf is born - this happens when you register its birth
• apply for cattle passport when you import or move cattle into England or Wales from outside of Great Britain
• meet the deadlines for getting a passport
• tell the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) if theres a mistake on a passport
• report a lost or stolen passport
• not move animals that do not have a passport, except with a movement licence, nor enter them into the food chain

New cattle passports and corrections are free. If you need to replace your cattle passport, youll need to pay 20 for each replacement.

When and how to apply for a passport for a newborn calf

For a newborn calf, youll apply for a passport when you register its birth with BCMS. You can do this online, by phone or by post.

For cattle or buffalo, you must register the birth by the day the calf is 27 days old to get a passport.

For bison, you must register the birth by the day the calf is 7 days old.

Read the other rules you must follow after a calf is born.

If youre worried you do not have enough time to register the birth, contact BCMS.

Before you start

Youll need to provide the:

• calfs official ear tag number
• calfs sex
• calfs date of birth
• official ear tag number of the genetic dam (the calfs genetic mother)
• official ear tag number of the surrogate dam (only if a surrogate has given birth to the calf)
• official cattle breed code - you need to follow the bloodline of the sire to determine the breed

You do not need the ear tag number of the sire (the father of the calf) to apply for a passport. But if you would like it to appear on the passport, you can give it when you apply.

Register a birth using Cattle Tracing System (CTS) Online

You can register a birth using Cattle Tracing System (CTS) Online - youll get a receipt when you do this.

If youre not registered to use the system, follow the registration and enrolment guidance on CTS Online.

For animals born after embryo transfer enter embryo trans into the genetic ID box if you do not have the ear tag number of the genetic dam.

Register a birth using CTS Web Services

You can connect to CTS Online using compatible software packages to register births.

To enrol for CTS Web Services, youll need a CTS user ID and password from BCMS.

Fill in Parts A and B of the CTS Web Services user ID and password request form (PDF, 108 KB, 1 page) and email it to bcmsenquiries@rpa.gov.uk. Use CTS Web Services user ID and password request as the subject header of your email.

Register a birth by telephone

You can register a birth by calling the CTS self-service telephone line anytime. Youll get a reference number at the end of the call.

You cannot use the self-service telephone line if:

• the calf has a surrogate dam
• you want to include the sires ear tag number on the passport

Youll need to apply online instead.

Register a birth by post

To register a birth by post, fill in a passport application form (CPP12). If you need this form, contact BCMS.

Post the application form to:

Consider getting proof of posting or using recorded delivery.

How to apply for a passport for imported or moved cattle

For cattle imported or moved into England or Wales from outside of Great Britain, you can only apply for passports by post. Find out more about passport rules for cattle imported into England and Wales.

When you receive the cattle passport

If you apply online or by telephone, BCMS aims to send out the passport within 3 days of getting your application.
If you apply by post, BCMS aims to send out the passport within 7 days of getting the application.

Check the passport details

When you receive the cattle passport, you must:

• check the details are correct
• sign it
• stick a barcode label (also called a holding address label) in the section to be completed by keeper on receipt of passport

There is a diamond-shaped image in the bottom right corner of the passport that is heat sensitive and will fade if held between finger and thumb. This tells future keepers of the animal that its a genuine document.

If a new cattle passport has not arrived

If its been more than 14 days since you applied and your passport has not arrived, contact BCMS. Do not delay or you may have to pay a passport replacement fee.

If you tell BCMS within 6 weeks of applying that the passport has not arrived, they will send you a free replacement passport.

If you tell BCMS more than 6 weeks after you applied, youll have to pay 20 per animal for replacement passports.

Correct a cattle passport

If there

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