Every animal accounted for: Kyrgyzstan to change livestock identification system

Kyrgyzstan is set to overhaul its system for identifying, registering, and tracking livestock. A draft amendment to the law "On the Identification of Animals and Animal Products" has been released for public discussion, aiming to clarify the roles of various stakeholders, including government bodies, veterinary institutions, local authorities, and animal owners.

The primary goal of these proposed changes is to ensure more precise and up-to-date animal records. This initiative is also driven by the need to align Kyrgyzstan's systems with the evolving standards of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The EAEU is working towards common approaches for identifying, registering, and tracing agricultural animals and their products, with plans for electronic data exchange between member states' national information systems.

The necessity for these updates was discussed in a June 5, 2026, meeting of an interdepartmental working group. Following this, the Department of Veterinary Medicine, Livestock Development, Pastures, and Feed was tasked with preparing amendments, including those related to animal owners' rights and responsibilities. If enacted, the new law would establish clearer rules for recording and updating animal identification data and create the legal framework for digital traceability of animals and veterinary documents.

Developers believe these amendments will enhance the transparency of animal accounting and prepare the national system for integration with other EAEU member states' information systems. The accompanying explanatory note suggests that the project is not expected to result in any negative social, economic, legal, environmental, or corruption-related consequences.