The Meat Board of Namibia

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Farm assured Namibian meat scheme
(FAN meat)

Consumers the world over are becoming increasingly aware of the need for safe foods and are becoming more sophisticated in their demands for assurances in this regard. A new approach by Namibia’s clients demands a holistic look at production and marketing with every link in the production chain – from pasture to packaging – being inspected and certified. The Farm Assured Namibian Meat Scheme (or FAN Meat) aims to provide fall assurance of total quality control; the scheme was approved by Cabinet in September 1999 and has been implemented since then in a phased manner. The software used for managing the scheme has recently been extensively upgraded and a new phase where ear tags are used for livestock identification and traceback has begun.
Frequently Asked Questions - FAN Meat Cattle Ear tags
	What animals must be tagged?
	All animals being sold - ie. leaving the premises of origin.
	How long do tags remain in place?
	Cattle ear tags are virtually permanent and are intended to remain in place for life; they are tamper-proof and cannot be removed unless they are broken/cut out or the ear is cut.
	What do the tags cost?
	The approximate price of an ear tag is N$ 6.20/tag.
	When do I change tags?
	The ear tag must carry the brand code that matches the first brand mark on the animal. If you acquire an animal and it stays on your farm before re-sale, then, according to law, you must re-brand it. However, the original ear tag must remain in the animal’s ear for life and subsequent owners may not attach new ear tags.
	What information will be carried on the tags?
	The ear tag will carry a computer code which matches your livestock brand symbol and a serial number that will allow individual identification.
	What is the aim of the tag?
	The aim of the tag is to enable animal traceability.
	How do I apply for tags?
	Tags are applied for by filling in the required application form at designated selling points. Tags are paid for in advance, and it is essential that you take your FAN Meat ID card and your personal ID card with you when applying. The code which will appear on your tags is the code that appears on your FAN Meat ID card - farmers who own more than one brand please note.
	How long in advance must I apply for ear tags?
	Tags must be applied for at least two months before they are needed. This gives time for the order to reach the Meat Board in Windhoek, to be passed to the tag manufacturers and for the finished tags to be delivered.
	What if I have a special brand?
	Ear tags are printed by computer and the code printed on them must correspond with the farmer's brand mark. Unfortunately, as computers cannot print these special symbols, it will be necessary for all farmers to acquire a normal commercial brand, registered in the Meat Board's computer system.
	What about special arrangements for stud breeders?
	It is appreciated that stud stock are often either specially marked, or use tattoos instead of brands. These symbols are alphabetic, and can be accommodated on ear tags.
	What about special brands – must I now re-brand all animals on my farm with a commercial brand?
	It has been explained to farmers that special brands cannot be accommodated on ear tags, as these bears ASCII symbols. Farmers who own special brands will have to acquire normal commercial brands in order to purchase ear tags. If all animals bear special brands, those that leave the farm (i.e. will be carrying ear tags) will have to be re-branded with the commercial brand immediately, so that the brand on the animal matches the ear tag code letters.
	Why has the “empty space” on the old ear tags been replaced with a bar code?
	The bar code has been introduced to accommodate the need for rapid animal movement and recording through auctions and abattoirs. It cannot be printed on the back of the tag; this will push up tag prices dramatically. Using a special, slightly larger tag type for those farmers who want to write their own management information on the tag has been approved by the Director of Veterinary Services, and these "maxi tags" are available from Swavet.
	Who will be distributing ear tags to farmers?
	Tags will be available from accredited distributors; these will include branches of Agra and Swavet, as well as others.
	Will tags be required for movement over short distances to other farms, even if the origin and destination farm are both owned by the same person?
	Tags are required for all movements for which veterinary movement permits are required. No animal may be moved by any means unless it is clearly identified with an official ear tag.
	What about movement registers?
	When animals leave or arrive at farms, their ear tag details are recorded on departure registers or arrival registers. When they leave a holding, the veterinary movement permit must be accompanied by a page of the departure registers detailing the tags of the animals being moved. When a tagged animal dies, the event is recorded in a termination register. These registers are available at state veterinarians' offices.
	What happens in the case of transcription errors, for example if a tag number differs between the arrival and departures register?
	The farmer at destination has to send both register pages plus the used movement permit back to the nearest state veterinarian for reconciliation. The state veterinarian then has to make the necessary corrections. At auctions and abattoirs, veterinary staff will be available on site to solve such problems.
	What about the procedure at abattoirs?
	At export abattoirs, veterinary staff will supervise offloading and ensure that arrivals registers are completed. Animals will have their tags scanned before stunning as a means of double-checking and providing the final data for reconciliation by Veterinary Services.
	What about the green ear tags?
	Animals entering Namibia from South Africa will be tagged by Veterinary Services with special green tags. Animals born inside Namibia will use the familiar yellow tags.
	Is there a legal basis for the ear tag requirement?
	In accordance with regulation AG 179 of 1982 (made under the Animal Diseases and Parasites Act), no cloven-hoofed animal may be moved between registered properties within Namibia unless a permit has been issued for such a movement, and the state veterinarian/animal health inspector is free to apply any necessary conditions. The use of ear tags and movement registers now becomes a condition for permit issuance. Movement permits will not be valid unless the animals whose movement they permit are tagged, and they are accompanied by a register listing the tags.
	What happens if an animal loses a tag?
	This is extremely unlikely under Namibian farming conditions, but in the unlikely event that this does happen, the producer must immediately re-tag the animal with another tag AND report the number of the original lost tag and the new tag to the nearest state veterinarian IMMEDIATELY. To ensure that tags do not become detached, they must be put in place in the animal's ear correctly.
	What do I do if a tagged animal dies or is stolen?
	In case of death or unexplained loss, the Termination Register must be filled in and presented to the Animal Health Technician during the next farm inspection.