General Standards

December 20, 2012 Version 2.0

Version 2.0

12/20/2012

Animal Disease Traceability
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General Standards Version 2.0 12/20/2012

Animal Disease Traceability

General Standards

CONTENTS

PREFACE ................................................................................................................................................................ 2

SECTION A: DATA STANDARDS ..............................................................................................................................3

OFFICIAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS - ANIMALS ...................................................................................................................3

Individual Animal Numbers...................................................................................................................................3

Animal Group Identification Numbers ..................................................................................................................5

LOCATION NUMBERING SYSTEMS ......................................................................................................................................6

STATE AND TRIBAL CODES................................................................................................................................................8

COUNTRY CODES FOR U.S. TERRITORIES...........................................................................................................................10

SECTION B: ADMINISTRATION OF OFFICIAL ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION METHODS AND DEVICES.......................... 11

OFFICIAL EARTAGS .......................................................................................................................................................11

Distribution of Official Identification Devices......................................................................................................11

Replacement of Official Identification Eartags ...................................................................................................13

Issuance of Duplicate Official Identification Eartags ..........................................................................................13

Approved Tagging Sites ......................................................................................................................................13
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Preface

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

(APHIS) has established traceability regulations for livestock moving interstate. The purpose of 

the regulations is to improve the ability of APHIS to trace livestock when disease is found.

The final rule, “Traceability for Livestock Moving Interstate,” references this Animal Disease 

Traceability General Standards document. This general standards document provides details on 

numbering systems and official identification devices that are authorized under the final rule. 

Additional information, including listing of official identification devices, is provided at 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability/.
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Section A: Data Standards

Official Identification Numbers - Animals

Official identification numbering systems are fundamental to animal disease programs. Numbers 

for both individual animals and groups of animals are defined to support methods of official 

identification for the various species and for meeting production management practices. Official 

animal identification devices, such as eartags, have an official identification number imprinted 

on them. Group/lot numbers are associated to the animals through records maintained by 

individuals responsible for the group throughout the production chain.

Official identification numbers are nationally unique numbers permanently associated with 

individual animals or groups of animals. Official identification numbers are associated with 

individual animals or groups of animals through official identification devices or methods. 

Official identification numbers adhere to one of the following numbering systems: 

• National Uniform Eartagging System (NUES)

• Animal identification number (AIN)

• Location-based number system 

• Flock-based number system 

• Any other numbering system approved by the APHIS Administrator for the official 

identification of animals

Individual Animal Numbers

Official animal numbering systems provide a way to uniquely identify individual animals. 

Official identification for certain species is based on identification devices (e.g., official eartags) 

that have an official animal number imprinted on them. Official identification devices that adhere 

to these numbering standards are listed in Section B of this report. The following table specifies 

the format for each official numbering system used for individual animals.
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Table 1. Official Identification Numbers

Data Element Length Format Example Comments

National Uniform 

Eartagging System 

(NUES) 

9 or 8 Alphanumeric 23 ELV 4574

PA ELV 4574

23 DX 1234

PA DX 1234

[2] 23

PA

Default is State or Tribe numeric 

code. State postal abbreviation is 

optional.

[3] or 

[2]

ELV

AB

See official tag specification in 

Section C, Table 5, for details on 

the use of the letters in these 

positions.

[4] 4574 4 digits in a chronological 

numerical sequence.

Animal ID number 

(AIN)

15 Numeric 840003456789012

[3] 840 The first 3 digits are the country 

code (840 = USA).

(See note below regarding USA 

and manufacturer codes.)

[12] 003456789012 The last 12 digits are the animal 

number.

Start number > 3,000,000,000.

Flock-based 

number with a 

herd 

management 

number

15 

Max.

Alphanumeric MN0456 4275

[9] 

Max.

MN0456 See flock standard below.

[6] 

Max.

4275 Unique herd management 

number.

Location-based 

number with a 

herd 

management 

number

14 

Max.

Alphanumeric IA123456 123456 

[8] 

Max.

IA123456 See LID and PIN standard 

below.

[6] 

Max.

123456 Unique herd management 

number.

AINs with the alpha characters USA or the numeric code assigned to the manufacturer’s ISO 11784/85-compliant 

identification device by the International Committee on Animal Recording may be used as alternatives to the 840 

prefix until 1 year after the effective date of the final rule, APHIS Docket-2009-0091, “Traceability of Livestock 

Moving Interstate.” 

Note: AINs beginning with the 840 prefix may not be applied to animals known to have been born outside the 

United States.
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Animal Group Identification Numbers

Group/Lot Identification Numbers (GINs)

The use of GINs provides a way to uniquely identify a unit of animals of the same species that is 

managed as one group throughout the preharvest production chain. The GIN consists of the 

following:

• One of the location identifiers (premises identification number (PIN) or location 

identification number (LID)) defined in the following pages

• A six-digit representation of the date on which the group or lot of animals was 

assembled or date the group was initiated if more than one day (MM/DD/YY)

• Two additional digits, ranging from 01 to 99, for the numbering of different groups or 

lots of animals assembled on the same premises on the same day. When more than 

one group of animals is assembled, the groups would be designated consecutively as 

01, 02, 03, etc. 

Flock Identification Numbers 

The National Scrapie Eradication Program furnishes eartags to sheep and goat producers. The 

numbering system for these tags combines a nationally unique flock identification number (FIN) 

with the producer’s unique livestock production numbering system. This flock-based numbering 

system represents an animal group that is associated with one or more locations. The system 

serves the sheep and goat industries well in their disease control and eradication efforts. 

A State or Federal animal health authority assigns the FIN to a group of animals managed as a 

unit on one or more premises under the same ownership. 

The following table specifies the official GINs. 
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Table 2. Animal Group Identification Numbers

Data Element Length Format Example Comments

Group/Lot ID 

Number (GIN) 

- Using a PIN 

15 Alphanumeric 004T56711221105

[7] 004T567 The first 7 characters are the 

PIN.

[6] 112211 The next 6 characters are the 

date the lot was established: 

MMDDYY.

[2] 05 The last 2 characters are the 

number (count 01-99) of the 

group assembled at a premises 

on the same day. (01 is the 

default when one group is 

assembled.)

Group/Lot ID 

Number (GIN) 1 

- Using a LID

14 or 

16

Alphanumeric WA123411221105

MN12347811221105

[6] or 

[8]

WA1234

MN123478

The first 6 or 8 characters are 

the location ID number.

[6] 112211 The next 6 characters are the 

date the lot was established: 

MMDDYY.

[2] 05 The last 2 characters are the 

number (count 01-99) of the 

group assembled at a 

premises on the same day. 

(01 is the default when one 

group is assembled.)

Flock 

Identification 

Number (FIN)

9 

Max

Alphanumeric

[2] PA State postal abbreviation 

required as the first two 

characters.

Max 

of [7]

723456A FINs exclude the letters I, O, 

or Q from the characters 

following the State 

abbreviation.

1 LIDs may also use the 7-character format. The check digit must be used as prescribed for PINs.

Location Numbering Systems

States and Tribes may elect to use location identifiers to support their animal disease traceability 

plan. Two processes, explained below, support the administration of location identifiers that 

adhere to the standards defined in Table 3. PINs are available through the PIN allocator, a 

software application tool that APHIS provides access to for States and Tribes electing to use it. 

States may also use their own process for administering unique State-issued location identifiers. 

In these situations the State or Tribe has their own local system and process for issuing location 

numbers to locations. To avoid confusion in presenting these options in this document, State-
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issued location identifiers are referred to as LIDs, and the location numbers States and Tribes 

obtain through the allocator are referred to as PINs (or standardized PINs). States and Tribes may 

choose to use other terms in their materials. 

States and Tribes are not required to provide PINs or LIDs for the administration of their 

traceability plans. However, if they choose to use location identifiers to administer their 

traceability activities, following the standards below will ensure that their information systems

are compatible with other traceability and animal health databases.

Location Identification Numbers 

LIDs are administered through a State’s or Tribe’s internal system. All LIDs start with the State 

or Tribe code which makes the LIDs nationally unique. They consist of six or eight 

alphanumeric characters. Additionally, seven alphanumeric characters may be used only when 

the last character is a check digit based on ISO 7064:1983, a standard published by the 

International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Using the State postal abbreviation as the 

first two characters ensures. 

Premises Identification Numbers

States and Tribes may elect to use the PIN in their traceability system. The standardized PIN, 

obtained through the APHIS PIN allocator, consists of seven alphanumeric characters. The last 

character is a check digit based on ISO 7064:1983. States may use the State’s postal abbreviation 

as the first two of the seven characters (for example, OH341T4) unless the State is using a sevencharacter LID. Tribes may also have codes reserved for use with PINs they administer. The 

codes for Tribes will be assigned upon request. States and Tribes obtaining PINs from the PIN 

allocator may use either the Standardized Premises Identification System or a Compliant

Premises Identification System. The standardized and compliant systems are defined in the 

Animal Disease Traceability Information Technology technical document.

The LID and PIN data standards are defined in the following table.

Table 3. Location Identifiers

Data Element Length Format Example Comments

LID1 6 Alphanumeric MN4321 First 2 characters are the State 

postal abbreviation. 

8 Alphanumeric CA654321 First 2 characters are the State 

postal abbreviation.

PIN 7 Alphanumeric A123R69 Last character is a check digit.2

1 States and Tribes may issue LIDs in the 7-character format only when the ISO 7064:1983 check digit is used as 

the last character.

2 The check digit calculation algorithm is based on ISO 7064:1983, “Data Processing – Check Character 

Systems.” (See Animal Disease Traceability Technical Standards document.)

Note: To avoid confusion with the numbers 0 and 1, the LID and PIN will not contain the letters O or I except 

when the letters are contained in the State or Tribal code.
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State and Tribal Codes

State and Tribal codes used with NUES tags and location identifiers are listed below. Additional 

codes for Tribes will be established upon request to APHIS.

Table 4. State, Tribe, and Territory Codes

Sort by Name Sort by Numeric Code

Alabama AL 64 Maine ME 11

Alaska AK 96 New Hampshire NH 12

American Samoa AS 99 Vermont VT 13

Arizona AZ 86 Massachusetts MA 14

Arkansas AR 71 Rhode Island RI 15

California CA 93 Connecticut CT 16

Colorado CO 84 New York NY 21

Commonwealth of the N. 

Marianas MP 98 New Jersey NJ 22

Connecticut CT 16 Pennsylvania PA 23

Delaware DE 50 Ohio OH 31

Florida FL 58 Indiana IN 32

Georgia GA 57 Illinois IL 33

Guam GU 97 Michigan MI 34

Hawaii HI 95 Wisconsin WI 35

Hualapai Tribe HT 78 Minnesota MN 41

Idaho ID 82 Iowa IA 42

Illinois IL 33 Missouri MO 43

Indiana IN 32 North Dakota ND 45

Iowa IA 42 South Dakota SD 46

Kansas KS 48 Nebraska NE 47

Kentucky KY 61 Kansas KS 48

Louisiana LA 72 Delaware DE 50

Maine ME 11 Maryland MD 51

Maryland MD 51 Virginia VA 52

Massachusetts MA 14 West Virginia WV 54

Michigan MI 34 North Carolina NC 55

Minnesota MN 41 South Carolina SC 56

Mississippi MS 65 Georgia GA 57

Missouri MO 43 Florida FL 58

Montana MT 81 Virgin Islands (U.S.) VI 59

Navajo Nation NN 77 Kentucky KY 61

Nebraska NE 47 Tennessee TN 63
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Sort by Name Sort by Numeric Code

Nevada NV 88 Alabama AL 64

New Hampshire NH 12 Mississippi MS 65

New Jersey NJ 22 Arkansas AR 71

New Mexico NM 85 Louisiana LA 72

New York NY 21 Oklahoma OK 73

North Carolina NC 55 Texas TX 74

North Dakota ND 45 Navajo Nation NN 77

Ohio OH 31 Hualapai Tribe HT 78

Oklahoma OK 73 Montana MT 81

Oregon OR 92 Idaho ID 82

Pennsylvania PA 23 Colorado CO 84

Puerto Rico PR 94 New Mexico NM 85

Rhode Island RI 15 Arizona AZ 86

South Carolina SC 56 Utah UT 87

South Dakota SD 46 Nevada NV 88

Tennessee TN 63 Washington WA 91

Texas TX 74 Oregon OR 92

Utah UT 87 California CA 93

Vermont VT 13 Puerto Rico PR 94

Virgin Islands (U.S.) VI 59 Hawaii HI 95

Virginia VA 52 Alaska AK 96

Washington WA 91 Guam GU 97

West Virginia WV 54 Commonwealth of the 

N. Marianas MP 98

Wisconsin WI 35 American Samoa AS 99

In addition to the codes listed above, the two letters “US” may be used as the first two characters 

on NUES tags.
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Country Codes for U.S. Territories

ISO 3166 establishes country codes. The country code for the United States is 840. U.S.

Territories may use their ISO country code as the first three characters of the AIN. The following 

table lists the ISO country codes for the U.S. Territories.

Table 5. Country Codes for U.S. Territories

Territory Code Territory Code

America Samoa 016 Northern Mariana Islands 580

Guam 316 Palau 585

Marshall Islands 584 Puerto Rico 630

Micronesia, Federated States of 583 Virgin Islands 850
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Section B: Administration of Official Animal 

Identification Methods and Devices 

Official identification methods and devices officially identify an animal or group of animals by 

applying an official identification number to an animal or associating an official identification 

number with an animal or group of animals. Tables 1 and 2 in Section A of this report list official 

animal numbering systems for livestock. 

Official identification devices and methods are listed in the title 9 of the Code of Federal 

Regulations (9 CFR), part 90, by species. 

Official Eartags

Official eartags, approved for certain species, are tags approved by APHIS that provide official 

identification numbers for individual animals. Before a manufacturer can produce and sell 

eartags bearing the official eartag shield, the tag must be approved by APHIS. 

A description of the types of official eartags with the specifications and options as well as lists of 

official eartags that are currently approved are provided on the ADT Website at: 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability/materials.shtml.

The primary criteria for official eartags include the following:

• Imprinted with an official identification number (see Table 1)

• Official eartag shield 

• Tamper evident, high retention

• Other characteristics defined through tag specification (defined on tag approval 

applications)

States obtaining official eartags direct from manufacturers may imprint their State’s postal 

abbreviation inside the official eartag shield in lieu of the letters “US”. Likewise, Tribes may 

imprint their alpha code (see Table 4). 

Distribution of Official Identification Devices

Proper administration of official identification devices is critical to support animal disease 

traceability. APHIS provides certain official identification devices to producers to apply to their 

animals. Distribution records of these devices are to be administered as explained below. 

National Uniform Eartagging System 

NUES tags have historically been used by animal health officials in animal disease programs. 

The animal disease traceability framework allows producers to use NUES tags, commonly 

referred to as “brite” tags, when authorized by the State or Tribal animal health official. The

following provides a basic overview of the key points regarding the distribution of NUES tags to 

producers:
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State, Tribal, and Territory animal health officials and accredited veterinarians1may 

provide NUES identification eartags to producers who wish to use them for official 

identification and other purposes without administering the eartags through a specific 

disease program. This does not apply to eartags that are specific to a disease program, 

such as brucellosis calfhood vaccination eartags. This enables producers to use the 

eartags as a tool to qualify their animals for interstate movement. In such cases, the State, 

Tribe, or Territory animal health officials will maintain complete oversight for the 

integrity of the information.

One of the duties of State, Tribal, and Territorial animal health officials providing NUES 

tags is ensuring sufficient contact information is collected about where NUES eartags are 

distributed to meet the traceability needs of the State, Tribe, or Territory. At a minimum, 

the distribution records need to be maintained for 5 years and must include:

• The name of the person the tags are issued to.

• The street address, city, State, and ZIP code where the tags are distributed.

• The identification numbers issued.

• The date the tags were issued.

• The name and contact information of the person issuing the tags.

States and Tribes may use the Animal Identification Management System (AIMS) to maintain

NUES tag distribution records.

The use of the AIMS requires the use of either a LID or PIN for each distribution record entered 

into AIMS. APHIS will, upon request, provide an alternative database that would support the 

recording of distribution records with the above information only. 

More specific details on the administration of NUES eartags is available in VS Memorandum 

578.12: Distribution and Use of Official Identification Eartags with Numbers Conforming to the 

National Uniform Eartagging System (3/15/2011)

Producers considering the use of and availability of NUES tags should contact their State or 

Tribal animal health official.

Animal Identification Number Devices 

AIN device managers and resellers distribute AIN devices with the 840 prefix to producers. State 

and Federal animal health officials may also use AIN devices when they administer animal 

disease programs. APHIS, through an application and approval process, approves AIN devices 

that meet established standards. Approved AIN manufacturers are allocated the 840 numbers and 

are authorized to imprint or encode the AIN only on their approved devices. 

AIN device manufacturers distribute AIN devices through AIN device managers, or may act as 

an AIN manager themselves. All distribution records of 840 AIN tags administered by AIN 

managers and State and Federal animal health officials must be reported to the AIMS by the 

person who has possession of the device when distributing the device to the next individual, 

whether it is a producer or another reseller. All recipients of AIN devices must first have a LID 

 

1 Producers may be able to obtain NUES eartags directly from State or Tribal animal health officials depending on 

the policies established at the State or Tribal level. 
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or PIN as defined in Section A and provide that number to the person that they are obtaining the 

devices from. The person responsible for the distribution of the AIN devices is responsible for 

the entry of the distribution record into AIMS. The record includes the AINs, date of distribution, 

and LID or PIN/NPN where the devices were distributed. Details of the processes available for 

completing these distribution records are provided in the AIMS user manual.

Producers electing to use AIN devices may contact the supplier of the tags in their area. The 

complete listing of AIN devices and the AIN tag manufacturer’s information is at 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability/downloads/AIN_device_list.pdf.

Sheep and Goat Tags

Administration of official identification requirements for scrapie program tags is explained in the 

Scrapie Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules document at 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/scrapie/downloads/umr_scrapie.pdf.

Premises Identification Number Tags for Slaughter Swine

PIN tags for slaughter swine provide an option to officially identify sows and boars to the 

premises where they were kept immediately before entering harvest channels. PIN tags for 

slaughter swine may be obtained from authorized manufacturers. As with the USDA backtag 

applied at markets, the PIN tag will be collected as an official form of identification to be 

associated with any blood or tissue samples collected for disease surveillance. If a PIN tag 

includes a manufacturer printed number that is unique within a herd, the tag would also qualify 

as an official eartag for interstate movement of individual animals.

Replacement of Official Identification Eartags 

Replacement eartags for retagging animals that lose their official eartag are defined in 9 CFR 

90.2(d), removal or loss of official identification devices.

Issuance of Duplicate Official Identification Eartags 

Duplicate official identification eartags may be obtained from approved eartag manufacturers 

when an official eartag was lost and the owner or person responsible for the animal needs to 

retag the animal with the official identification number of the lost eartag. This may be a standard 

practice for some breed registries or other genetic companies that use official eartags in their 

programs. For AIN eartags, the manufacturer will submit a record to AIMS with the information 

on the reissuance and distribution of the duplicate eartag. Additionally, the eartag manufacturer

will imprint the designated symbol on the eartag to reflect that the tag is a duplicate of a 

previously issued tag. When the duplicate eartag contains radio frequency identification 

technology, the manufacturer will encode the number in accordance with ISO 11784 for 

administering transponders.

Approved Tagging Sites

Approved tagging sites are locations authorized by APHIS, State, or Tribal animal health 

officials where livestock may be officially identified on behalf of their owner or the person in 

possession, care, or control of the animals when they are brought to the tagging site. In these
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cases, livestock required to be officially identified may be moved interstate and officially 

identified at the approved tagging site. 

The animals must be officially identified at the tagging site before they are commingled with 

animals from other premises or identified by other practices that will ensure the identity of the 

animal is accurately maintained until tagging. This will ensure the official identification numbers 

of the eartags are correlated to the owner of the animals (or person responsible) when shipped to 

the tagging site. For example, a livestock market, acting as an approved tagging site, may use 

backtags to temporarily identify the animal upon unloading. The approved tagging site, at a 

minimum, must:

• Obtain official identification eartags as directed by APHIS, State, or Tribal animal health 

officials.

• Maintain a record of all official identification eartags received for tagging animals at the 

tagging site.

• Receive animals requiring official identification on behalf of their owner or the person in 

possession, care, or control of the animals when they are brought to the tagging site 

agrees to have the animals officially identified in accordance with approved tagging site 

protocols.

• Maintain tagging records using forms or electronic systems as directed by APHIS, State, 

or Tribal animal health officials to include, at a minimum: 

- The name of the owner or person responsible for the animals tagged and 

their street address, city, State, and ZIP code 

- The official identification numbers of the tags applied associated with the 

owner or person responsible for the animals.

- The date the official identification eartags were applied.

• Submit the records of tags applied to the designated animal health official as directed by 

APHIS, State, or Tribal animal health officials.

When animals are moved to an approved tagging site to fulfill the official identification 

requirements, the interstate certificate of veterinary inspection or other movement document 

must contain a statement verifying that the official eartags are to be applied at an approved 

tagging site along with the name and complete address of the tagging site. States will provide 

public listing of tagging sites. 

Entities interested in becoming an approved tagging site should contact their APHIS, State, or 

Tribal animal health official.