The Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries (MIRAH) in Côte d'Ivoire has clarified the conditions of its convention with French company Vet'tronic for the identification and traceability of animals in the country. In a press release on October 7, 2026, the MIRAH addressed allegations made by "Enquête Média" on October 5 and repeated by journalist Théophile Kouamouo on his channel DLA on October 6. The ministry described these publications as containing inaccurate information about a strategic reform in the livestock sector.
The identification of animals in Côte d'Ivoire began in 2022 with the aim of ensuring the traceability of animal products, strengthening the fight against cattle theft, improving health surveillance, controlling livestock movements, and having reliable data on the national herd. According to the MIRAH, 2,350 ruminants were stolen in 2025, and there are 4,767,243 cattle and sheep that require monitoring, particularly in border and transhumance zones.
The MIRAH engaged in consultations with inter-professions, created a dedicated service within the Directorate of Animal Productions, and developed technical tools that conform to the standards of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA). The ministry also reported that on August 1, 2024, decree No. 2024-665 was adopted, establishing general rules for identifying animals, their owners, and premises.
To transition from a manual system to large-scale identification, the MIRAH initiated a procedure to select a national provider for an IT solution, in accordance with the Public Procurement Code. However, the initially selected solution presented technical shortcomings that were deemed incompatible with the requirements of the future national system. Consequently, the ministry continued its search for other operators.
The MIRAH engaged in discussions with Vet'tronic, a company specializing in animal identification solutions. Vet'tronic proposed a system that includes electronic identification equipment, reading tools, a data management platform, and technical support. Additionally, the company offered a 12-month pilot phase, using its own resources, to identify 20,000 farm animals and 5,000 pets, test equipment, train users, and evaluate the solution.
The MIRAH informed the National Steering Committee for Public-Private Partnerships (CNP-PPP) on August 10, 2026, to legally and institutionally secure the process. The ministry assured that data related to the national herd will be hosted and secured in Côte d'Ivoire. Discussions are ongoing with the National Development and Computerization Society (SNDI) and the National Agency for Universal Telecommunications/TIC Service (ANSUT) regarding hosting conditions.
The MIRAH emphasized that the animal identification project is a strategic reform aimed at improving the livestock sector in Côte d'Ivoire. The ministry expressed its commitment to ensuring the success of this project, which will help to modernize the sector and improve the country's animal resources management.
Key points
- The MIRAH has clarified the conditions of its convention with Vet'tronic for animal identification and traceability in Côte d'Ivoire.
- The identification of animals aims to ensure traceability, strengthen the fight against cattle theft, and improve health surveillance.
- The national herd data will be hosted and secured in Côte d'Ivoire.
