Agreement signed in development of new livestock traceability service

LIVESTOCK: Defra gave the service the green light in April

A new agreement has been signed between the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and Defra setting out how the AHDB could develop a new multi-species livestock traceability service for England.

Over the coming months, due diligence will take place and a target operating model for the new service developed. The detailed work will enable a final decision on whether to proceed with the collaboration to be taken in the autumn.

This development follows the announcement from Defra in April about the go-ahead of the service, providing the foundation for some of the best farm-to-fork traceability in the world. The agreement was signed during a visit to AHDB’s Stoneleigh Park headquarters by Farming Minister George Eustice.

He said: “We have been clear from the start that we need government and industry to work together in providing this service, which is why I am pleased to see this next stage of delivery underway.

“The service will be instrumental in improving traceability and ensuring we continue to provide some of the best meat and livestock products in the world.”

Key stakeholders, represented by the Traceability Design User Group (TDUG), have been involved in developing the vision and design principles and determining how all parties can work together.

John Cross, independent chair of TDUG, said: “It is essential that the service is delivered in partnership with industry. It must underpin on-farm productivity and enable better management of risks to animal health in order to connect our supply chain, help us to evidence our high standards of production and protect and access markets both at home and internationally.”

AHDB Chief Executive Jane King added: “AHDB is in a unique position to be able to lead the collaboration between government and industry in order to deliver a future traceability service which is truly transformational.

“By working closely with industry through TDUG we will ensure that the needs of the user are at the heart of the developing service, resulting in a system that delivers for farmers and processors across the livestock sectors.

“As we prepare to leave the EU, a robust service delivering farm-to-fork traceability is fundamentally important to the future health of livestock farming in this country. Being able to evidence our world-leading production standards for quality meat and livestock products will continue to set us apart from our competitors.”