On 18 April 2024, the Parliament of Zambia enacted a new law, the Animal Identification and Traceability Act 2024 (AIT Act), to strengthen legal reforms on animal identification and traceability.
The AIT Act, which repeals and replaces the Animal Identification Act of 2010, aims to establish the Animal Identification and Traceability Unit providing for its functions and providing for an animal identification and traceability system. The AIT Act will also provide for the registration of animal identification marks and agents and the traceability of animals, animal products, and animal by-products.
In September 2023, during the presentation of the 2024 National Budget to parliament, the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane (Minister), revealed that the government would table the Animal Identification and Traceability Bill before parliament.
Madam Speaker, to strengthen legal reforms on animal identification and traceability, Government will bring to this House the Animal Identification and Traceability Bill in this session.
Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, 2024 National Budget Speech
The strengthening of the legal reforms in the livestock sub-sector is one of the government’s proposed ways to unlock potential in the sector.
The Minister noted that animal identification and traceability were critical to livestock trade, disease control, and stock theft prevention.
To enhance animal identification and traceability, Government has developed an online system which is being piloted in Central, Lusaka, Northwestern, Southern, and Western Provinces. The system will enable the public to register, search and identify animals. The platform will be linked to a Short Messaging System for ease of access by animal owners. So far, 68,518 livestock farmers with 411,108 cattle have been captured. It is envisaged that the cattle population of approximately 5 million will be captured under this system by December 2024.
Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, 2024 National Budget Speech
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