These Regulations give effect in Ireland to Council Regulation (EC) No. 21/2004 and establishes the National Sheep Identification System (NSIS) as the approval system for the identification, registration and movement of sheep in accordance with Article 1 of the Council Regulation. They require a keeper not to have in his or her possession or control, a sheep unless it is identified in accordance with the Community sheep identification legislation and these Regulations. Identification measures include: registration of a holding; flock register; movement documents for sheep; appoved tags and electronic identification for sheep; and an annual census and other information to be supplied by a keeper to the Minister.