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The project commenced by WinCat, a company in the UNITEAM SpA group, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Lazio Region, is designed to experiment with an innovative electronic identification system for livestock through the use of electronic tags that contain complete information about the animal and its history.
A project for food quality and safety
Through this project, the Ministry intends to evaluate possible implementation of systems that would simplify the pursuit of a series of strategic objectives aimed at:
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Experimenting with innovative tools that can support automatic data recording and certification systems.
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Permitting the transfer of identification and health information all along the production line, down to the end customer.
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Automating management of health and functional controls and company management through the use of electronic devices.
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Automating slaughterhouse operations that must comply with current regulations on identifying and registering animals.
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Supporting meat tracking programs, with the possibility of adding other mechanisms to electronic identification after livestock has been slaughtered.
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Permitting implementation of a data bank with more information, to provide customers more complete and exhaustive final comments.
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Supporting programs designed to enhance and protect PDO (protected designation of origin), PGI (protected geographical indication - with certification of specificity) and organic products.
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Traceability: A Basic Principle for Food Safety
The traceabiity of foods makes it possible to identify the origin of any problems and eliminate them when they arise.
The European Community defines traceability as:
" ...the ability to trace and follow a food, feed, food producing animal or substance intended to be or expected to be incorporated into a food or a feed through all stages of production, processing and distribution. "
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An opportunity for companies and a legal obligation starting in 2005
Traceability is an indispensable aid in certifying a product. EU Regulation 178/2002 provides for the introduction of a mandatory tracing system for animals beginning in 2005.
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Project promoters
The experimental animal tracing project was developed by WinCat Srl, a company in the UNITEAM SpA group, in collaboration with numerous national and local public agencies, including:
Ministry of Health : Office of Health Research and Agency Overseeing
Lazio Region : Assessorate of Health, Office of Veterinary Services - Assessorate of Agricultural Policies, Department of Agricultural Development and Rural World
Experimental Preventive Institutions : Lazio and Tuscany regions, Veneto Region, Lombardy and Emilia regions, Piedmont Region, Liguria and Valle d'Aosta, Umbria and Marche regions, Southern Italy
University of Tor Vergata : Engineering faculty, Department of Electronic Engineering
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Benefits for companies
By adopting an efficient system of food traceability like RFID, companies can certify their ability to:
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Produce with respect for the environment and the animal's well-being
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Respect hygiene standards
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Control the production system in a transparent manner
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Benefits for Consumers
By buying from companies that use tracing systems, consumers are certain of buying quality products controlled along the entire production process. Using these systems, it is possible to control:
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The origin of raw materials |
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Production method |
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Production process |
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Control method |
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Means of transport and distribution of finished products
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RFID: The animal's whole history accessible in real time
Compared to other methods (earmarks, tattoos, paper passports) that can be mishandled or lost, when tags are applied, all the necessary information can be found right on the livestock, and thanks to the emission of totally innocuous low frequency electromagnetic waves, it is available wherever the animal is located.
Tags can contain all information needed to guarantee the quality of the animal, such as:
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Animal's code |
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Personal information (passport) |
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Companies through which the animal has transited |
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Veterinary controls the animal has undergone |
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Treatments undergone
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With traditional methods, there may be delays in communication and recording an animal in the National Data Bank. But with RFID, all information can be added in real time.
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A value for consumers and producers
Traceability of food production is desired and sought out by both consumers, who demand food and beverages with a guaranteed, transparent quality, and producers, who want consumers to know about the value of their products.
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