The Databases Section is responsible
for the development and maintenance of the various software systems within the
Animal Health & Welfare Section. These systems are kept in line with EU and
National Legislation.
Various systems were developed and
set up, such as:-
- The National Livestock
Database - the official animal database.
- IntraTrace - Database
for records for intra community trade.
- InterTrace - Database
for records for international trade.
The National Livestock
Database is the database adopted by Malta for the identification and
registration of bovine animals pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000. The EU
Commission officially recognised the database for bovine animals as fully
operational in Malta from 1st May 2004.
The National Livestock
Database holds data on Malta's livestock population, including cattle,
sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, equine and pet animals such as dogs and cats. The
Government is required by EU regulations to keep this information, which
includes data on traceability, animal health, food safety and animal welfare.
There are a number of government departments within different Ministries
connected to the database, including all of the offices of the Veterinary
Regulation Directorate.
The database was developed by the Government in co-operation with The
Veterinary Epidemiology Unit at The University of Reading, UK.
The cattle tracing system has been recognized by the European Commission
as being "fully-operational" according to the requirements of EU
regulations. Malta is the only member state to have achieved this recognition.
It means that we do not have to use the printed cattle passports required in
every other member state. Moreover, farmers do not have to apply for payments
under the cattle subsidy schemes: payments are generated automatically
according to the information in the database. This results in significant
savings of cost and paperwork for the Government and farmers.
To maintain the benefits of EU recognition, it is essential that the
records in the database are kept up to date and accurate, and that farmers
promptly notify the Veterinary Regulation Directorate of animal births,
movements and deaths.
Over the years, the functionality of this database continued to become
more sophisticated with other areas included in the remit of controls of the
Directorate. Apart from all the farm animals registered, there is also the
registration of all dogs in Malta on this database, in line with L.N. 199/2011
and this is done by private veterinarians through their clinics on behalf of
their clients. The database also accepts the registration of all pet passports
issued in Malta by private veterinarians through their clinics, for all dogs,
cats and ferrets. There is also the registration of all equine, such as horses
and donkeys, and whenever requested an official document is issued on the
animal registered as per legislation in force.
The database also caters for the regulatory function of the Trade Unit,
particularly the Border Inspection Posts, where substantial investment has been
done in development in this area so that all consignments of veterinary
interest are scrutinised by the system in relation to automatic data download
and further cross-checking with other third party information systems such as
Customs data and EU data.
The database also caters for the operational side of the main public
abattoir, where it keeps a log and issues traceability information for all
animals slaughtered. These established procedures all follow local and EU
legislation.
Client program
The main user interface for the database in Malta is a client program
InterTrace. Only registered users of the system can access the database through
this program by means of a database user name and password. They must also be
authenticated to the CORP domain. Permissions to control the types of data that
are available or editable to each database user are controlled by the
Administrator.
All database records are stamped with date, time, user and workstation
of the most recent modification or discontinuation.
A user-defined document generator allows production of official
documents, such as animal passports, movement permits, health certificates and
licences.
Application Forms
- Application to keep up to 2 bovines as hobby MT | EN
- Applicatin to keep up to 4 small ruminants as hobby MT | EN
- Application for business/large scale Ruminant Farm MT | EN