Bovine and Buffalo Traceability System in Costa Rica

The Individual Identification and Traceability System for Bovine Cattle in Costa Rica, which will come into effect on July 1, 2025. The system requires that all primary cattle production establishments, auctions, livestock fairs, slaughterhouses, and other establishments related to the possession, movement, and commercialization of cattle be registered. Animals must be individually identified using Official Individual Identification Devices (DIIO) before 6 months of age, and this information must be recorded in the Trazar-Agro system. The protocol details the processes for the registration of establishments and operators, the acquisition and use of DIIOs, the identification and registration of animals, and the procedures for the movement of cattle. It also establishes the deadlines for the registration of information, the requirements for the notification of animal movements, and the procedures for handling the loss or damage of identification devices. The document includes provisions for monitoring and control through audits and field visits, as well as sanctions for noncompliance for both establishments and officialized operators.