Animal Identification and Traceability System to be Launched November 13

Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, says all is in place for the official launch of the National Animal Identification and Traceability System on November 13.

“All things are in place; tags and tagging equipment have been procured, laws have been reviewed by the Attorney General’s Chambers and submitted to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel, and sensitization sessions have been extensively executed in preparation for the launch,” Mr. Kellier said.

He was speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, November 4, in response to questions posed by Opposition Spokesperson on Agriculture, J.C. Hutchinson on measures being implemented to curb praedial larceny.

Under the system, every head of cattle and other livestock will be tagged and issued a passport. The passport will contain critical information about the animal and will be mandatory for the movement of all animals.

Minister Kellier informed that key stakeholders, such as the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Ministries of Health, and Local Government and Community Development, and the Jamaica Constabulary Force, have been engaged in the implementation and enforcement of this system.

He noted that while the existing receipt book system serves as a traceability tool, it is not sufficient to track the movement of animals and produce, which reportedly takes place between midnight and six o’clock in the morning.

In addition, the Agriculture Minister stated that the Ministry is working to establish multi-species abattoirs under public-private partnership arrangements.

“These will be operated by the private sector, and the necessary legislative framework will be put in place to make it mandatory for all meat in the commercial trade to pass through these certified centralized facilities,” Mr. Kellier said.