Since December 2006, it has been mandatory for cattle farmers in the Netherlands to use the National Service for the Implementation of Regulations electronic identification and registration system for cattle. This system avoids the huge amounts of paperwork involved in reports, requests for amendment and surveys. Cattle farmers can report electronically in three different ways (web services, online, voice response), seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Also, they can survey their company records at any time using the new central ICT system. The system is indispensable for the effective control of animal disease and to guarantee food safety.
Policy Context
With a view to monitoring food safety and controlling animal diseases, the National Service for the Implementation of Regulations (NSIR) records various sets of information on animals. Identification and registration is done on the basis of European regulations. A complete identification and registration of animals is indispensable for an effective dealing with animal diseases and the guarantee for food safety and with that politically relevant. In addition the I&R system is a precondition for the so called European premium regulations and ties in with recent developments in relevant European legislation. Nationally the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality is responsible for animal registration. To this purpose a national policy and legislation has been developed. The General Inspection Authority and the Food and Commodities Authority are the enforcement authorities and execute inspections and controls (livestock, meat). In the Netherlands this system is linked to the ‘other government initiative’ aiming at targets such as the reduction of administrative burden, electronic services, civil participation and a government that is effective, efficient and client orientated. From the point of view of the 'four freedoms' the system leads to lower thresholds concerning transport and export and import of meat and animals. If the system would be applied on a Pan-European scale, it would lead to transparency, efficiency, speed concerning the exchange of data and a client friendly and innovative basis for the further strengthening of the single market and an information society for all, providing direct benefits to the European citizens and businesses.
Description of target users and groups
The target group consists of 40.000 cattle farmers, all using the system. The system is possibly extended to also cover all animal farmers, extending the number of users in the Netherlands to approximately 90.000.
Description of the way to implement the initiative
The infrastructure provides sufficient facilities to allow cattle farmers the opportunity to report animal related events by means of a number of channels: - Management packages / private applications. Management packages and private applications that for instance run in the slaughterhouse environment or at a facilitator, exchange messages with the I&R-System using the web services. - Internet applications. Cattle farmers via a simple Internet application can report to I&R. - I&R Online. The I&R-Online application provides the facility to apply for information from I&R and to enter mutations in I&R. These application services have a generic setup. However there also is the possibility to offer these services in any random environment, by using the web technology. - Voice response System. A voice response system (VRS) is an application that traditionally is implemented on hardware that is specifically suitable for this purpose. Via a VRS the telephone of the farmer becomes a terminal that can be used for entering reports. Alternative options are sending in paper forms or sending SMS messages, which however is a lot less efficient (high costs, longer processing periods) and leads to an unnecessarily high administrative burden.
Technology solution
The system has been developed and executed in cooperation with software companies under the direction of the Ministry, by DICTU (ICT department of the Ministry). We used three critical success factors (individual identification, central registration, deployment of electronic means of identification). During the so called shadow operation for three months we used a user panel. In practice the system operates well. The system is run on two different locations. If the system should fail on one location, the other location takes over. The system is ‘future proof’ and meets all European requirements. It is an overture for a new European standard. It is a durable investment as it applies the latest technology that connects to the market developments concerning a principle related to architecture (loosely coupled architecture). This principle for instance allows for the modification of the control systematic or connecting additional channels without affecting the core of the system.
Main results, benefits and impacts
I&R is of great importance for the export sector, because it allows for faster trading, slaughtering and transport of animals. In the event of an animal crisis, for example on a European or worldwide scale, we can trace extremely fast from which source the contaminated animals originate. It is also possible to quickly map the areas with zoning, literally, using a GIS application, allowing for the maximum limitation of economic damage and victims and spread of the disease. Linking at a Pan European level will lead to a more prepared faster and adequate response. This is also important because of the enormous economic interests involved in the trade of animals/meat in Europe and worldwide. It is one of the most innovative systems in its field in the world. The system has been built from scratch and is based on a completely new infrastructure and software architecture (inclusive with an administrative organisation and ISO-certified manual). The system only has electronic reporting channels allowing for the input of reports via the internet, voice response and web services (connecting of company management packages). The principle of web services in this perspective connects to the developments in the market for chain integration. The system is very reliable and secure as, in a worst case scenario, in case of failure the export and slaughter sector in the system comes to a halt. In order to be able to guarantee the reliability and availability of data and infrastructure, transactions are stored in two different locations and processing is executed applying a double or redundant configuration on two physically separated locations. The entire life of an animal is registered in one location on the basis of 1 unique ear tags concerning holding, birth, sex, mother, hair colour, departures, arrivals, death, slaughter, export, import and immunization.
Return on investment
Return on investment: Not applicable / Not availableTrack record of sharing
The system can be considered as a translation of the European legislation into a durable concept. It therefore presents great possibilities for application in the EU but also outside of the EU. It can be applied in a broader capacity then the basic registration for farm animals. It can for instance be used for all types of animals: farm animals, but also for instance animals in the circus or in zoos, national parks, etc. An important application is the possibility to trace the origin, the source or the cause of animal diseases. Data exchange with other I&R systems of EU member states can certainly be realised. In the European context the system could be integrated with TRACES (a European system in which boarder crossing traffic, among which animals, are monitored). It therefore is desirable in the future to link the I&R system to TRACES allowing for a better survey of the import and export of cattle at a European level. We certainly are prepared to share information and knowledge for instance via: Twinning projects, to receive EU memberstate delegations and to cooperate in organising conferences concerning this subject or organise these ourselves.
Lessons learnt
Lesson 1 - The concrete logistics that is related to the electronic earmarks. Lesson 2 - Record or not to record so called ‘blockages’ concerning the outbreak of animal diseases (appointing animals and / or locations that are not suitable for the meat chain). We have gained a lot of experience on how to deal with sensitivities that surround both the sector as well as the government concerning the division of responsibilities and authorisations. Lesson 3 - The obligation to report by the sector versus the services provided by the government. The National I&R legislations states that cattle farmers must report relocation of animals to the government within three working days following the event, via electronic channels only. From a technical point of view this involves a high availability of the system (for instance a double system, monitoring on hard and software). Much more important even is taking measures of an organisational nature, allowing us to timely register that the system fails or even is completely down, allowing us to respond quickly. In government circles this involves a true revolution in our approach as we still tend to work in a nine to five routine. The organisation must be able to effectively provide this service.
Scope: National