August 26, 2010

Brazil introduces new cattle traceability system

The Brazilian National Agricultural Confederation (CAN) supports the changes being made to the local cattle traceability system aimed at decreasing the bureaucracy and costs of the current system.

The new system will be based on a new Agricultural Management Platform Database (PGA) where producers will be able to access online information relevant to their cattle such as Animal Transit Guide (GTA) - a document which authorises the transport of animals between properties and from properties to plants.

According to CNA, the new system's main modification will be the option to choose property identification (for animals intended to be slaughtered for the domestic market or export markets which do not require traceability) or for individual identification (required by the EU).

The objectives of the current modifications to the system are to increase eligible cattle supplies for the EU, Brazil's highest value market, as currently only around 3% of Brazilian beef is shipped to the EU.

Producers have been reluctant to join the current SISBOV system, as a result of the low premiums paid by meatpackers in contrast to the system's high costs, given the series of bureaucratic requirements.