Animal diseases do not respect national borders, but the Department confirmed that implementing animal tracing systems is a devolved matter. The Department explained that its livestock tracing programme director meets regularly with the devolved administrations. However, it also highlighted that different decisions are being made. For example, Scotland had made a different choice of ear tag which is an important element of cattle tracing systems, and transition timetables are not aligned across the devolved administrations. The Department could not confirm to us if its new system would be fully integrated across the devolved administrations.35 30 C&AG’s report, para 3.14 31 Qq 43-44 32 Q 43; C&AG’s report, para 3.15 33 C&AG’s report, para 3.16 34 Qq 43-45; 35 Qq 46-48 14 Illegal meat imports