What is the National Livestock Information System (NLIS)?

The National Livestock Information System (NLIS) aims to identify and trace back all livestock in Mauritius, Rodrigues and Agaléga using an effective identification and recording system. Livestock include Poultry, Cattle, Goat, Sheep, Pigs, Deer and also Bees. Ensuring traceability of livestock products is an essential component to achieve the ultimate goal of self-sufficiency and quality.

Who is concerned with the NLIS?

Every livestock rearing farms should be registered with the NLIS to ensure traceability of produce. Following registration, the NLIS team will set up a farm visit to identify all livestock on the farm. Once registered, your farm will receive a Premises Registration Number (PRN)

Farmers shall be eligible for grants, schemes and facilities provided by the Government only if they are registered on the NLIS and their animals are identified.

The following institutions have access to the NLIS database:
▪ Animal Production Division (Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security)
▪ Livestock and Veterinary Division (Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security)
▪ Entomology Division (Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security)
▪ National Agricultural Products Regulatory Office (Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security)
▪ Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute
▪ Small Farmers Welfare Fund
▪ Mauritius Meat Authority

What type of animals are concerned?

All livestock (animals that are consumed, or which yield products that are consumed, by man) should be recorded on the NLIS.

Cattle, Goat, Sheep and Pigs are individually identified through a microchip having a unique identification number.

Bee colonies are also identified using the microchip that is placed in the beehive.

Poultry and Deer are identified in batches as from the hatcheries or game handling facilities.

You need an ISO certified Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) scanner to read microchips placed in your animals.

Why is traceability important?

There are several reasons why traceability of livestock and livestock products is important. Here are a few main reasons:

a) Protection of Animal Health:
Traceability systems can help protect the health of animals by identifying those that are sick and those that have been in contact with them.

b) Public Health and Food Safety:
Traceability systems can help ensure public health and food safety by excluding from slaughtering diseased animals or animals suspected of infectious and contagious diseases for public consumption.

c) Disease Control and Eradication:
Traceability is a tool to help countries meet their objectives of controlling, surveillance, biosecurity protection of the national livestock population, preventing and eradicating animal diseases.

d) Verification of Ownership:
Traceability is used for verification of ownership, efficient farm management, registration, insurance and misrepresentation of theft of animals.

e) Marketability of Products:
Traceability is adopted by major meat exporting and importing countries. This improves the marketability of products in the international market.

f) Transparency in Food Safety:
Traceability in the livestock industry helps in identifying the parentage, ascertain ownership, make way for transparency in food safety, assuring compliance and improving palatability.

g) Response to Emergencies:
Traceability systems can help reduce response times during an emergency or outbreak, thereby limiting economic, environmental and social impacts of disease outbreaks, food safety issues and natural disasters.

How to register your farm with the NLIS?

Registration is done by type of premises you operate as listed below from A to G.

Step 1: Choose which category best suits your activity and click on the corresponding link. A registration form will open. Fill it and submit the form.

Step 2: Your form will be sent to the concerned authorities for verification.

Step 3: You will be contacted for a site visit on your premises to validate your application. GPS coordinates of your premises will be recorded.

Step 4: Your complete application will be sent for approval. Once approved you will receive your Premises Registration Number (PRN) and your login information to access the NLIS webpage or mobile app to view and manage your premises.

A. Registration of Farm
   a) if you are the owner or lessee of the land on which the farm is located​
   b) if you occupy land owned by a third party for farming​
   c) if you own livestock kept on a registered farm owned by a third party​

B. Registration of Quarantine Station and Isolation facility​

C. Registration of Slaughterhouse (Poultry)

D. Registration of Slaughterhouse (Other than Poultry)​

E. Registration of Game Handling facility
   a) Venison Dealer​
   b) Venison Retailer
   c) Game Venison Dealer​​

F. Registration of Breeding facility​

G. Registration of Livestock Trading facility​​

Please download the registration form here, fill it and submit it either by mail to moa-apd@govmu.org or by post to:

Animal Production Division,
Agricultural Services,
​Réduit 80835.​

My farm is already registered and I have new-borns/purchased animals that need to be identified (microchipped).

Request can be made directly from the NLIS webpage using your login and password or on the mobile app that you can download from the Google play store (Android) or the Apple app store (iOS).