Abiec: Individual Traceability of Cattle and Buffaloes is a step forward for Brazilian livestock farming
With the active contribution of the Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries (Abiec) in its development, the National Plan for Individual Traceability of Cattle and Buffaloes was announced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) this week. The Plan is the result of a Working Group created by the Secretariat of Agricultural Defense, which included the participation of Abiec and other entities in the production chain. Its establishment will represent a significant advance in the efficiency of the country's agricultural defense, guarantee better control of quality and food safety, and, consequently, enhance the opening of new markets and the maintenance of existing ones for Brazilian meat. Brazil is the world's largest exporter of beef and is already present in more than 150 countries.
Although there is already a consolidated traceability system, based on the control of animal movement, through the Animal Transit Guide (GTA), today it is done in batches. With the Plan, through technologies such as buttons and electronic earrings, this control will be done per animal, individually.
"Mandatory individual traceability represents a decisive step for Brazilian agricultural defense, enabling rapid responses to health emergencies and strengthening the confidence of international markets. In addition to protecting the production chain against potential losses, this system modernizes the sector and will be essential for opening and maintaining new markets", says Abiec’s executive president, Roberto Perosa.
According to Perosa, individual traceability will allow producers to improve the management of their herds and properties. "The gradual implementation, based on progressive steps, will give the sector the time it needs to adapt", he says.
The Association’s Director of Sustainability, Fernando Sampaio, explains that the Plan was created seeking consensus among stakeholders, but that public and private efforts will still be necessary, especially to support small producers in adapting. "The rules were designed to facilitate the adoption of traceability and the efficiency of the system, especially in the registration of movements and the interoperability of state and national systems".
The implementation schedule includes the development of the national system, the integration of state systems and the gradual identification of herds over three stages. At the same time, the states are also moving ahead with the National Plan. Santa Catarina already has mandatory individual traceability, Pará is implementing its program and São Paulo has already announced its system.
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