Overseas Animal Identification Schemes

A growing number of countries around the world have implemented systems for providing or improving existing livestock identification and tracing capability. Many of these systems are meeting similar objectives to NAIT, but are doing so with differing specifications and ways of operating.

A document has been prepared by MAF Biosecurity New Zealand, on behalf of the NAIT partners, to inform the design and implementation of NAIT. It looks at the approaches to the identification and tracing of cattle that have been adopted in:

• Great Britain
• Australia
• Canada
• The Netherlands
• Switzerland
• The United States of America
• Japan
• South Korea
• Argentina
• Brazil

Summaries of the requirements specified by the European Union and the guidelines published by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) are also provided. The paper concludes with nine high-level recommendations that highlight where any solution for achieving enhanced livestock identification and tracing in New Zealand can best take account of the lessons that have been learned overseas.

A copy of the Review of Selected Cattle Identification and Tracing Systems Worldwide is available click here www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/review-cattleident-systems-worldwide.pdf