April 16, 2008

OIE urges for traceability on global livestock
 

The director-general of World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) is urging for traceability and product identification introduced on a global scale.

All nations should prepare to implement livestock marking systems due to dwindling global trade barriers and surging animal production, said OIE director-general Dr Bernard Vallat, according to an ABC Rural report.

Consumers want cost-effective labelling and the technology to do so are available in many countries, said Vallat.

More exporters would feel obliged to use traceability systems to comply with consumer demands, and when the consumers ask for products for which they know the origin, the farmer will make appropriate investments because animal health is a global public good, according to Vallat.