Getting a traceability system that works alright is not a simple thing, especially on a country or even region basis. In a recent report from the Irish agricultural committee, they condemned the current system in Ireland because it was not able to react correctly to last year's dioxin in pork scandal. For a 10% infection rate, the report says, a 100% recall was made. This cost the country about 100 million EUR, hardly a small sum.

These are of course complicated matters. However, I believe that with a 16 point step-by-step programme which I have recently put together on some slides, countries like Ireland could have a workable traceability system for much, much less money.

Hopefully BrightAnimal, our recently launched EU project on Precision Livestock Farming, will help in working out the recommendations a little better. (Stay tuned for the web, it's not working yet.)