NAIT Scheme

NAIT (National Animal Identification and Tracing) is an animal identification and tracing scheme linking people, property and livestock.

By enabling individual animals to be traced, NAIT enhances New Zealand’s ability to respond more quickly if there is a biosecurity threat such as a disease outbreak.

NAIT is mandatory for cattle and deer. Approximately 80 percent of New Zealand’s beef and venison is exported each year and meat and dairy products constitute more than 62 percent of New Zealand's total agricultural exports.

NAIT Ltd is the industry-owned company implementing the scheme. NAIT Ltd’s shareholders are Dairy NZ, Beef + Lamb NZ and Deer Industry New Zealand. The company is not-for-profit and is registered with the Charities Commission.

 
Retaining market access

Globally consumers are increasingly demanding high quality and safe food. NAIT will make an important contribution in maintaining a robust, stable and responsible agricultural industry in New Zealand by enhancing our reputation for producing food to the highest standards of quality, safety and environmental responsibility.

In the event of a biosecurity threat such as a disease outbreak, NAIT’s capacity to help provide a rapid containment response will enable trade to resume more quickly with less economic impact for farmers and New Zealand.

 
Enhanced biosecurity planning

The NAIT scheme also enables New Zealand’s Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) Biosecurity division to improve its planning and execution due to improved business intelligence about cattle and deer.

 
What NAIT does to achieve this

The scheme

  • links people, property and livestock
  • provides lifetime animal traceability
  • enhances New Zealand’s biosecurity response
  • safeguards our New Zealand brand and farmers’ income.

 
How the NAIT scheme works

The NAIT database stores information about each animal’s individual RFID tag number, its location, and the contact details of the person in charge of the animal. It provides reliable, up-to-date information on individual animal locations and movements.

The NAIT system database meets animal tracing requirements for New Zealand consistent with World Organisation for Animal Health guidelines.