World meat industry news

 The House of Representatives intends to consider amendments to the law on identification, registration, and traceability of farm animals, identification and traceability of animal products in the first reading during its spring session, BelTA learned from member of the Permanent Commission for Agrarian Policy Aleksandr Levchuk.

The bill proposes to expand the list of animals subject to identification, registration, and traceability in the national information system. The list currently includes all cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and pigs. After the amendments come into force, fur animals, birds, fish and other aquatic animals will be added to the list.

According to Aleksandr Levchuk, the ultimate goal is to ensure clear traceability, so that not only specialists, but also common customers could find out all information about the origin of the product. “Package will feature a bar code that will direct people to a web-page with information about the producer and the animal with the help of a barcode scanner application. This will guarantee consumers that the product is safe. They should be sure that the product is legitimate,” Aleksandr Levchuk said.

According to him, the bill is not an easy one. “A lot of additions and discussions will follow. Farms and processing enterprises also put forward their proposals,” he noted.

The Permanent Commission for Agrarian Policy is working on a number of bills ahead of the spring session of the parliament. They include amendments to the law on veterinary activities which will receive its first reading. Authors of the bill gave a more detailed description of the algorithm to prevent bringing infectious diseases from other countries and specified conditions for expanding a buffer zone, Aleksandr Levchuk said.

During the spring session, the second reading will be given to amendments to the law on livestock breeding. It will be brought into compliance with the law enforcement practice and the current legislation.