ear tag in each ear and on a paper cattle passport which is held by the current keeper of the animal (this system covers both cattle and other bovine animals such as water buffalo and bison). The unique number and passport remain with the animal throughout its life and any movements of cattle are recorded both on the paper passport and electronically on a national system administered by the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) . Such a system is important because: it supports the control and eradication of bovine diseases, for example, tuberculosis (TB) and foot and mouth disease (FMD) it protects consumers by ensuring that products going into the human food chain are fully traceable and as safe to eat as possible Applying for cattle passports Applications for cattle passports must be made to the BCMS . Applications for passports can be made to BCMS in Workington in five ways: through CTS Online CTS Web Services from some farm software packages using an agent using the pre-printed application form sent automatically when an order for eartags is confirmed (if you regularly register your cattle births electronically, BCMS have stopped automatically issuing pre-printed passport applications forms with your ear-tag orders) Self Service Line (SSL) - the BCMS automated telephone system All applications for cattle passports must be made to the BCMS within seven days of tagging (a maximum of 27 days in total from date of birth). Keepers of cattle must ensure that passport applications are made within the time