Keeping and moving sheep

New tags

From 1 January 2025, sheep and goats must be tagged with an electronic identification device.

In the Northern Territory (NT), you must follow certain rules to keep, buy, swap, sell or move sheep.

If you're keeping, buying, swapping, selling or moving sheep, you must also:

Due to the risk of bluetongue virus in the NT, permits with certain conditions may be issued to bring:

Bluetongue virus is a viral infection spread by midges and can result in severe illness.

It has been found in northern areas of the NT since the 1970s.

Unlike other sheep breeds, damara sheep do not develop the virus from the current NT strains.

This is why there are tougher conditions to get a permit to import other breeds.

To monitor its presence and other livestock viruses, the NT is involved in the National Arbovirus Monitoring Program.

To move sheep from your NT property to another NT property, you must submit an waybill.

To move sheep into the NT, you must apply for a permit. Follow these steps:

Step 1. Contact your local livestock biosecurity officer.

Step 2. Fill in the application.

Step 3. Fill in the NT health certificate and waybill form.

Step 4. Email both documents to ntpic.brands@nt.gov.au.

To move sheep out of the NT to another state, you must submit an NT waybill.

You must also follow the relevant state's entry rules.

For more information, contact your local livestock biosecurity officer.

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