Enabling country of origin labeling and verification for livestock products

• US 20050065862A1
• Filed: 09/23/2003
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James T. Doubet
• Original Assignee: James T. Doubet
• Inventors: Doubet, James T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,285,606 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed that enable country of origin labeling and verification. A source verification or “animal passport” procedure and system are disclosed, whereby each transfer of one or more animals is documented and recorded in a repository. An animal passport (i.e., certificate) is used for tracking transfers. A new passport is issued for every transfer, and a unique number (or other unique identifier) is assigned to each such passport. At the same time, each passport carries the passport number of the preceding transfer (or transfers), such that a sequence of passport numbers identifies all transfers occurring throughout the lifetime of the associated animal or animals. Animal passports may also be used to track transfers of animal products.

Claims

1. A method of tracking animal transfers with animal passports, the method comprising steps of:

creating an animal passport to represent a transfer of animals from a transferor to a transferee;

assigning a unique passport identifier to each created animal passport, thereby providing a unique identification of the underlying transfer; and

repeating the creating and assigning steps for each subsequent transfer of one or more of the animals, wherein the animal passport created for each subsequent transfer also records the unique passport identifier assigned to each most-recent transfer of those animals.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the animal passports is signed by a transferor and transferee who are parties to each transfer, thereby certifying the transfer represented by the signed animal passport.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of recording the animal passports in a repository.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of using the animal passport identifiers to track locations of the animals.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the animal passports reflect a complete lifetime of the animals and are therefore usable to track transfers of the animals throughout their lifetime.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the animal passports reflect a complete lifetime of the animals and are therefore usable to track locations of the animals throughout their lifetime.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transfers are transfers of ownership.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transfers are transfers of possession.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the transfers is a transfer of ownership and at least one of the transfers is a transfer of possession.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the repeating and assigning steps are also repeated for subsequent transfers of animal products derived from the animals.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the animal passports further specify individual animal identifications of the transferred animals.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein additional animals may be included in one or more of the subsequent transfers, and wherein the animal passport created for such subsequent transfers also record the unique passport identifier assigned to each most-recent transfer of those additional animals.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein animal passports are created for each transfer during a lifetime of the animals and further comprising the steps of:

recording each of the animal passports in a repository, along with a specification of how many animals are represented by each transfer, a location of the animals during a timeframe covered by the animal passport, and an identification of one or more transferors and one or more transferees who are parties to each transfer; and

determining a country of origin for one or more selected ones of the animals using a most-recent unique passport identifier associated therewith to determine all locations in which the selected ones have been located throughout their lifetime.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of preparing a country of origin claim using the determined country of origin.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein animal passports are created for each transfer during a lifetime of the animals and further comprising the steps of:

recording each of the animal passports in a repository, along with a specification of how many animals are represented by each transfer, a location of the animals during a timeframe covered by the animal passport, and an identification of one or more transferors and one or more transferees who are parties to each transfer;

using a most-recent unique passport identifier associated therewith to determine all locations in which one or more selected ones of the animals have been located throughout their lifetime; and

verifying a country of origin claim for the selected ones by comparing the determined locations to one or more locations stated in the country of origin claim.

16. A system for uniquely identifying animals transferred in groups, the system comprising:

means for associating a unique identifier with each transfer of a group of animals;

means for recording the unique identifiers in a repository, along with a specification of how many animals are in the group and an identification of one or more transferors and one or more transferees who are parties to the transfer; and

means for linking each subsequent transfer of any of the animals to prior transfers by associating a new unique identifier with each such subsequent transfer and specifying an association between the unique identifier of the prior transfer and the new unique identifier of the subsequent transfer.

17. The system according to claim 16, further comprising means for tracing transfers of a subset comprising one or more of the transferred animals by accessing the association between the unique identifier of the prior transfer and the new unique identifier of the subsequent transfer for that subset.

18. A system for identifying groups of animals from birth to death, comprising:

means for associating a unique identifier with animals transferred from an original owner thereof;

means for associating a different unique identifier with each subsequent transfer of the animals or any subset thereof; and

means for linking, at each subsequent transfer, the different unique identifier with the unique identifier associated with a most-recent transfer of the animals in that subsequent transfer.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein additional animals may be included in one or more of the subsequent transfers, and wherein the unique identifier of the most-recent transfers of those additional animals is also linked with the different unique identifier of the subsequent transfer.

20. A method of tracking transfers with passports, the method comprising steps of:

creating a passport to represent a transfer of one or more entities from a transferor to a transferee;

assigning a unique passport identifier to each created passport, thereby providing a unique identification of the underlying transfer; and

repeating the creating and assigning steps for each subsequent transfer of one or more of the transferred entities, wherein the passport created for each subsequent transfer also records the unique passport identifier assigned to each most-recent transfer of those entities.