Since the 1960s, a mandatory tagging system, known as the Property Identification Code (PIC)-tailtag system has been used throughout Australia based on a unique identification number assigned to each farm or parcel of land. The basis of Australia’s livestock traceability system is this PIC, which underpins Australia’s NVD and the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) programs.

The PIC system identifies each land holding with an eight digit alphanumeric code. The code is issued by State Governments and identifies the state, region and location of the landholding. The PIC continues to be utilised in the Australian tailtag system, where the PIC is recorded on a tailtag attached to the animal before it leaves the property. If an animal is sent for slaughter, the PIC is referred to a central database where the residue status of the animals consigned under the PIC is checked.

The tagging system has acquired additional features over the years. The tags or PIC became the enabling instrument for surveillance of residues of agricultural and veterinary chemicals and monitoring. Also, the tags have assisted with disease surveillance and monitoring.

Different coloured tags have been introduced as a means to assist certain initiatives responding to market needs. Each state has a different coloured tag and in the early 1990s a pink tag was introduced to identify HGP-free cattle.  Later that decade a lime-green tag was introduced as a means to identify HGP-free cattle eligible within the closed European Union system.