title: Importance of the traceability of animals and animal products in epidemiology.
abstract: Traceability of animals and animal products has become a priority for governments of the developed countries, due to consumer demand for comprehensive and integrated food safety policies. In addition to analysing the differences between traceback and traceability systems, the authors describe some applications of animal traceback systems and the principal characteristics of an animal identification and registration system. The importance of a traceability system for food-borne risk assessment and management, and the most recent approaches towards a comprehensive and integrated animal health and food safety policy are reported.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise G. Caporale, Via Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Caporale
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giovannini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Francesco
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calistri
mesh_terms: D000820:Animal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000823:Animal Identification Systems / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards; D008461:Meat Products / Q000592:standards; D011786:Quality Control; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017751:Safety Management; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology