The proposal to amend Regulation 10 was passed at the BGS Committee Meeting on 26 November 2011. 

The main differences are:

• an increase from not more than 10 letters to not more than 12 letters for a prefix; and
• an increase from not more than 10 letters to not more than 12 characters (letters and numbers – see below for full details) for a goat’s name. 

From 1 January 2012 BGS Regulation 10 is as follows:

Names under which Goats may be Registered

10. (1) The name under which a goat may be registered shall consist of two words, one of which shall be the breeder's registered Prefix and the other a name consisting of not more than a total of twelve characters (ie letters and numbers), unless the person making the application has not registered more than six goats in the Herd Book and/or Foundation Book, or is not the breeder of a goat to be entered in the Foundation Book under Regulation 4(2) or Identification Register, when the name may consist of one word of not more than twelve characters (ie letters and numbers). No two goats may be registered with the same name.  The name must contain a minimum of two letters and, if numbers are used, a maximum of four numbers.
(2) A Prefix consisting of one word of not more than twelve letters and approved by the Committee must be registered by every person registering a goat unless such person (a) is the registered owner of a prefix or (b) has not registered more than six goats in the Herd Book and/or Foundation Book. To register a Prefix a person must be a Member of the Society, or a member of an Affiliated Society respectively. The right to a Prefix is automatically cancelled if the registered owner ceases to be a Member of the Society or is not a member of an Affiliated Society, but such Prefix may be restored if the owner rejoins the Society or becomes a member of an Affiliated Society, at the discretion of the Committee. The transfer of a Prefix or the substitution of one for another may be approved by the Committee subject to payment of a further fee.