Georgia’s Chief Veterinary Officer, the Deputy Head of the National Food Agency, and the Delegate to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), Dr.Vasili Basiladze deems the Program a success and states, that the adoption of such system is a part of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) with the EU and that Georgia is the first country in the region, that already operates such registration system.
“Ten years ago, it was virtually impossible to obtain information on the number of large or small ruminants in Georgia. Likewise, traceability of movement, diseases, and slaughter of animals was quite complicated. As of today, up to five and a half million entries have been made in the National Animal Registration System. With the support of donor organizations and by adopting the experience of other countries, a legal framework has been created, Agency capacities have been strengthened, veterinarians within the system are actively involved in the animal identification and registration process and an electronic system has been launched to promote traceability and protection of consumer interests. In addition to registration, animal identification also assists farmers in enabling them to benefit from State programs and also to sell both animals and their products without any impediments. Furthermore, by improving registration and traceability, production standards and confidence in Georgian products on export markets have increased” – stated Dr.Vasil Basiladze.
Between 2012 and 2020, 5 408 667 large ruminants were identified (including 4 173 379 large ruminants since 2012 and 1 235 288 small ruminants since 2015).
The National Food Agency started working on the creation of unified national animal identification and registration system in 2012.
Since 2016, with the assistance of donor organizations, this process was elevated to an entirely new level. In 2017, the Project of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) – “Technical Assistance to Support the Establishment of a National Animal Identification, Registration and Traceability System (NAITS) in Georgia” – was initiated, within the scope of which a new database software was developed and introduced. The software has since been updated and an electronic database has been set up, which allows the Agency veterinarians to record information on animals and their owners directly into the electronic database in lieu of previously existing paper forms.
This greatly streamlines veterinarians’ work and simultaneously ensures traceability of animals and their products in the shortest time possible, which, in turn, is an important component of food safety.
The NFA veterinarians (including contracted) carry out the identification and registration of animals throughout the entire country. Animals are given an individual identification number (ID) by attaching a tag to their ears at birth, which accompanies them at all stages – movement, sale and purchase, gift, slaughter, export, etc.
In the unified database veterinarian also registers relevant data (animal, the person responsible, holding, etc.). Registration software has been developed on an “Open Source” basis, which allows authorized users to utilize the system wherever the Internet connection is available. Carcasses of animals slaughtered at slaughterhouses are marked and labeled, including with an identification number, thus ensuring traceability in line with the “Farm-to-Fork” strategy.
Concurrently with the identification and registration – the so-called “tagging” process – the Agency veterinarians also perform ongoing prophylactic vaccinations against various diseases (foot-and-mouth disease, anthrax, lumpy skin disease, brucellosis, etc.)
The NFA veterinarians and specialists as well as animal slaughterhouse representatives are involved in the identification and registration system. The identification and registration, slaughterhouse, laboratory, and border control modules are updated on a regular basis. In parallel to technical system update, training of engaged groups is likewise conducted.
Between 2020 and 2021, more than 5 000 training were held for hired staff, slaughterhouse veterinarians, and inspectors, and an assistance platform (the so-called Help desk) was set up to give consultations to veterinarians on program-related issues.
The establishment of an animal identification and registration system in Georgia is proceeding in stages, taking into account priority animal species. In the first stage, the large ruminant identification system was introduced in 2012, the small ruminant identification was inaugurated in 2015 and since 2016 the same process has been ongoing for swine.
Beekeeping represents one of the priority and popular directions. The Resolution of the Government of Georgia (№505) approved Special Rules for Registering Beekeeping Holdings and Identification of Bees, which is scheduled to enter into force in 2023. When in force, it will facilitate registration, traceability, and increase in competitiveness of Georgian honey, both on local and export markets.
Work has also commenced on draft Rules for identification and registration of one-toed hoof animals (e.g. horses, donkeys).
Currently, the identification and registration process of small ruminants is actively underway. However, in order to eliminate complications faced during the course of such activities (for example, difficulties with registering numerous sheep herds), a Recommendation has been worked out by the National Food Agency and the NAITS Project working group on using radio frequency identification (RFID) system for identification of small ruminants. This way, special equipment will be placed in the vicinity of veterinary surveillance points and slaughterhouses. A pilot field test of the RFID system is planned for 2021–22, which, if successful, will then be implemented fully.
Raising farmers’ awareness and their active involvement in the whole process still remains a challenge. The system requires regular recording and reporting of animal movements at the level of each farm, which is an issue for most farmers. The National Food Agency, together with donor organizations, is conducting an active awareness campaign in this direction.
Author: Nino Chachanidze, the OIE Focal Points for Communication
