FAO and the National Food Agency (NFA) of Georgia have launched a pilot programme for the National Animal Identification & Traceability System (NAITS) in the Kakheti region. In this regard, representatives of the agency and FAO introduced electronic tablets to be used instead of paper forms, by local veterinary officers.

Within the pilot programme, veterinarians will be able to record information on animals and their owners in the updated database, using electronic devices. As a result of joint work of FAO and the National Food Agency, three municipalities of Kakheti region have been selected for piloting. Based on piloting results, veterinary paper forms might be replaced with portable tablets nationwide.  This will significantly improve the quality of information tracking and veterinary service, as well as simplify working process.

 The pilot programme aims to outline all possible shortcomings related to the system and avoid all possible faults for the next phase of NAITS implementation.

 According to Mikheil Sokhadze, the National Team leader of NAITS programme, the piloting is useful to test the updated system and related working process. 

 "Together with the system's soundness, it is noteworthy that we are moving to the new, modern principles of farming services, which ensure safe epidemiological environment in the country," said Mikheil Sokhadze.

 The second stage of the pilot programme is scheduled for autumn, in case of successful piloting results; relevant replication process will be launched across Georgia.

 The National Food Agency has started implementing the National Animal Identification and Traceability System in 2012. Since 2016, the process has been enhanced with financial support of the Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency (SDC) and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).