Brazilian export cattle to be tagged

From Monday March 15, 2004, all beef exported from Brazil will have to be derived from cattle that are logged under the Brazilian System of Identification and Certification of Origin for Bovine and Buffalo (SISBOV). Under SISBOV, the Brazilian government requires producers to register both their properties and their cattle. Animals enrolled in the SISBOV system must have a specially assigned SISBOV identification number, identification date, certification unit, animal identification number, breed association registration number, species, breed, birth date, sex, purpose (milk or beef), birth property and enrolment property. Any animal movement (sale or transfer) must be logged with SISBOV. In addition, SISBOV is updated when an animal dies. There are numerous certification units that have been authorised by the Brazilian government to collect data and then pass the required data to the SISBOV database. SISBOV commenced in January 2001 when Brazil wanted to assure key consumers, particularly the EU, that cattle could be identified from FMD-free regions. Initially, it was only mandatory for animals destined for the EU to be certified on SISBOV immediately prior to slaughter. However, this has since been extended. A mandatory phase-in program has been developed: * From March 15, 2004, all cattle destined for export must be within SISBOV at the time of slaughter. * From May 30, 2004, all cattle must be within SISBOV 90 days prior to export. * From November 31, 2004, all animals must be registered with SISBOV 180 days before export. * From May 30, 2005, all animals must be within SISBOV 365 days before to export. * All animals born after December 31, 2005 and pre-existing cattle, regardless of whether they are being exported, must be registered on SISBOV (in FMD-free zones). * Finally, from December 31, 2007, all Brazilian cattle must be on SISBOV. Source: Meat & Livestock Australia