News > Animal ID and Traceability Working Group releases report

The Animal ID and Traceability Working Group released its proposal for New Zealand livestock traceability systems on the last day of July. The group was formed in May 2004 to consider the traceability needs of cattle (both beef and dairy) and deer, while also taking into account the needs of sheep, pigs, horses and goats.

The primary driver for a traceability system is biosecurity – to provide rapid traceback and the ability to isolate animals in the case of a potential threat. Other drivers include meeting the market access requirements of our individual trading partners.

Rezare Systems has been following the working group process closely, and project manages a parallel set of analysis funded by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and industry partners.

The NZTE Traceability and Integrated Farm Management project will shortly produce two reports that are relevant to the traceability discussion.

• A current state analysis draws together much of the same information that the Animal ID and Traceability Working Group has used in its deliberations, into a form that is more readily accessible. It covers biosecurity and market drivers, overseas experiences, market perceptions, and traceability technologies.

• A review of New Zealand’s current traceability databases builds on the information contained in the Working Group proposal, but will provide more technical information about the databases, what they record, and what connectivity options they support.

The Working Group proposal is available at the Meat and Wool New Zealand web site, and we encourage interested parties to make a submission using the forms at that site.

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