After the successful implementation of Georgia’s National Animal Identification and Traceability System (NAITS), the Food and Agriculture Organization in Georgia (FAO) and National Food Agency (NFA) have launched the second phase of the project - NAITS II.

The NAITS system collects and electronically records information to mandatorily identifiable animals, their keepers, health-related information, and holding locations all around Georgia. While the first phase focused on designing, building and implementing the electronic system, the second phase will concentrate on its sustainability and bringing it to more stakeholders. Along with other state and non-state interested parties, NAITS II aims to reach out to the commercial sector related to livestock and consumers, to ensure they can benefit from the collected data.

“NAITS II aims to secure its sustainability and long-term impact on public health, animal health, food safety and access to international markets,” says Project Manager Dragan Angelovski. “We aim to achieve this by creating the relevant environment and promoting the participative inclusion of stakeholders. We are glad to have the opportunity to continue this successful project and look forward to further collaborating with interested parties.”

Tracing animals and animal origin products in a prompt and timely manner is crucial in the food safety chain. It ensures the delivery of safe food to consumers, leads to an improved food system in Georgia, facilities trade, and contributes to the effective implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) agreement.

The project is implemented by NFA with the technical support of FAO Georgia and the financial support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC).

The NAITS electronic system consists of 25 modules. It brings together hundreds of system users (NFA veterinarians and inspectors) and information regarding more than 1 million bovines: their birth and origin, health condition and data about other health-related activities, and slaughterhouses, to document the full path of the animal from farm to plate. NAITS has also introduced a consumer module: with the help of a QR code, consumers are able to access essential information about the animals from which their products originate.

Georgia is the first country in the region to introduce NAITS. Confirming the robustness and quality of the system provided to the NFA, several states, including North Macedonia, Albania, Uzbekistan, Kirgizstan, and countries in the Caribbean, have expressed interest in sharing the system or system development experiences.