On March 18, 2026, a pilot operation of the updated Animal Identification and Tracking System (AIATS) was launched in the Chui region, initiated by the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic. This was reported by KOICA.
This initiative is part of a project aimed at "Enhancing the Safety of Animal-Origin Food" through the creation of a comprehensive intelligent animal identification and tracking system in the country. It is designed to improve food safety management and increase transparency in the livestock product supply chain.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister Asel Kenenbaeva, KOICA Head in Kyrgyzstan Lim Soyun, and Deputy Director of the Veterinary Service for Livestock Development, Pastures, and Feed Ishenbek Alambetov. The project, with a budget of 5.5 million USD, began in 2022 and is expected to conclude at the end of 2026.
The new system will be tested at 19 pilot sites in the Chui region, including 5 slaughterhouses, 5 veterinary and sanitary examination laboratories (VSELs), and 9 meat sales points. A call center will be established to ensure the smooth operation of the system, providing technical support to the district offices of the Veterinary Service and pilot sites.
The system will enable tracking of livestock products at all stages of the supply chain, from breeding to sale. KOICA provided the necessary equipment, including servers and networking equipment for the data processing center at the state institution "AgroSmart," as well as PCs, laptops, printers, label printers, electronic scales, smartphones, and QR code scanners for district offices of the Veterinary Service and pilot sites.
Effective legislation and capacity building for project participants are key aspects of the initiative. 14 Veterinary Service employees underwent training in the Republic of Korea, where they learned about the phased implementation process of the Korean traceability system. KOICA experts also proposed improvements to existing laws. Discussions are underway regarding incentives to expand participation in the system, which will help ensure the long-term sustainability of the project.
These efforts are expected to significantly enhance the efficiency and transparency of the traceability system, as well as strengthen consumer trust, which in turn will contribute to public health protection.
