title: Linking live animals and products: traceability.
abstract: It is rarely possible to successfully contain an outbreak of an infectious animal disease, or to respond effectively to a chemical residue incident, without the use of a system for identifying and tracking animals. The linking of animals at the time they are slaughtered--through the use of identification devices or marks and accompanying movement documentation--with the meat produced from their carcasses, adds further value from the perspective of consumer safety. Over the past decade, animal identification technology has become more sophisticated and affordable. The development of the Internet and mobile communication tools, complemented bythe expanded capacity of computers and associated data management applications, has added a new dimension to the ability of Competent Authorities and industry to track animals and the food they produce for disease control, food safety and commercial purposes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment and Primary Industries, P.O. Box 2500, Bendigo, Victoria, 3554, Australia. tony.britt@depi.vic.gov.au
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Britt
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment and Primary Industries, P.O. Box 2500, Bendigo, Victoria, 3554, Australia.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment and Primary Industries, P.O. Box 2500, Bendigo, Victoria, 3554, Australia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Evers
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment and Primary Industries, 475 Mickleham Road, Attwood, Victoria, 3049, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paskin
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000823:Animal Identification Systems / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D003257:Consumer Product Safety / Q000592:standards; D059022:Food Safety; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards