The Provincial Livestock Directorate has officially announced the creation of the Equine Identification Registry, which will be optional during 2026 and mandatory from January 1, 2027. The regulation, published in the Official Gazette through Resolution 37, establishes that all horses must carry a read-only injectable microchip, linked to their health booklet and the owner’s data.
The aim is to modernize health and commercial control, combat livestock theft (cattle rustling), and ensure responsible ownership.
System Operation
- Injectable RFID microchip: assigns a unique and unalterable identity to each horse.
- Digital registry: requires three photographs of the animal, updated health data, and the Equine Health Booklet linked to the owner.
- Implementation deadlines:
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- 2026: optional use.
- 2027: mandatory for transfers, fairs, and sales operations.
Strategic Benefits
- Health traceability: allows knowing location, movement history, and vaccination, key to preventing diseases.
- Legal security: facilitates the recovery of stolen animals and hinders illegal trade.
- Animal welfare: replaces obsolete methods such as branding.
- Access to international markets: a requirement of the European Union and other countries for equine meat export.
- Civil liability: identifies the owner in cases of accidents, damage, or abuse.
National Regulations and Coordination
Senasa establishes the mandatory electronic identification of all equines through a microchip or subcutaneous transponder.
The National Individual Equine Registry (RENIE) is the basis of this system, which is also applied in provinces like Buenos Aires with the Single Equine Document (D.U.E.).
Main Scopes
- International trade: mandatory for definitive or temporary exports (Senasa Resolution 278/2022).
- Slaughter: required for equines sent to slaughterhouses.
- General control: a fundamental requirement for traceability and animal health.
Impact in Mendoza
The measure strengthens the legal and health security of local producers, aligning the province with international standards. Additionally, it contributes to the modernization of the livestock sector and the protection of rural ecosystems against illegal trade and lack of control.
The mandatory registration of horses through microchips in Mendoza marks a milestone in Argentine equine management.
The initiative not only combats theft and clandestine slaughter but also ensures traceability, animal welfare, and access to international markets. With this measure, the province positions itself as a leader in technological innovation applied to the agricultural sector.
