HomeNAIT (National Animal Identification and Tracing) is a planned animal identification system that will link people, property and animals.
The system will provide New Zealand livestock owners, processors and government with timely and quality information on the current location, movement history and other related attributes associated with livestock.
A partnership between industry and government is overseeing the development of the NAIT system, which is expected to be mandatory from mid-2011 for cattle, with deer to follow a year later.
With its ability to trace infected animals and properties quickly and accurately, NAIT will improve New Zealand’s ability to respond and contain the damage from biosecurity risks and food scares. This will help give assurance to trading partners that it is okay to resume trade after an event.
Domestic and overseas customers are increasingly demanding that products can be traced from birth to slaughter. A NAIT system with supporting legislation will encourage existing customers to continue to trade with us, and help attract new ones. Without NAIT, trade opportunities are likely to be lost.
In essence, the purpose of NAIT is to “safeguard the New Zealand brand and farmers’ income by protecting market access for New Zealand animal products through enhancing regulatory and consumer confidence in New Zealand’s ability to manage biosecurity and food safety”.*
* As agreed by the NAIT Technical Advisory Group, 28 January 2009