PROJECT GOAL

The National Project entitled “PILOT APPLICATION OF THE NON ANTIBIOTIC CERT STANDARD IN ANIMAL FARMS – NON FACTORY FARMING PRODUCTS” aims to certify the non-use of antibiotics in animal farms and as a result, in meat and dairy products. More specifically, the NON ANTIBIOTIC CERT Standard applies not only to the selected non factory farming of goats, sheep, cattle and black pigs, by approaching the non-use of antibiotic substances in farm animals based on the application of precautionary measures and maintaining a second herd in case an antibiotic is used, but also in the cooperating slaughterhouses-meat processing plants or in dairy production units. In this way, certified meat products such as goat-sheep meat, beef meat, black pig meat and dairy products such as goat-sheep milk, feta cheese, goat milk, goat cheese etc.- which are some of the main products of animal origin of Greece – are obtained and marked with the registered by GMCert Trade Mark NON ANTIBIOTIC CERT, common for all products.

EXISTING PROBLEM

The uncontrolled use of antibiotic substances in humans as well as in farmed animals has, as known, created severe problems, by creating resistant microbial strains that are hard to deal with and measures are being taken worldwide for reducing the consumption of antibiotics both by humans and farmed animals.

ADVANTAGE

The Project’s implementation lies in the fact that while the non factory farms in the Greek pasturages have the luxury of a diet rich in antioxidants, due to their special characteristics (very large biodiversity which has been developed without interruption over a very long period of time and with favorable climatic conditions) so the use of antibiotics is very limited to zero, the above advantage remains unexploited, since both the meat and the dairy products from these farms are not differentiated in the market in order to improve their competitiveness and gain added value.

PROPOSAL

The pilot application of the NON ANTIBIOTIC CERT Standard and the product labelling create a new group of products that can also be intended for special categories of consumers (for example infants, children, pregnant women, etc.) for whom there is a particular sensitivity regarding their diet. The certified NON ANTIBIOTIC CERT products can be placed on the market as special products adding added value and the producers can gain part of this added value, since the Project aims to improve the competitiveness of the producers of primary products by their better accession into the chain of agricultural food products through quality systems and to add value to agricultural products, by promoting local markets and short supply chains. The NON ANTIBIOTIC CERT Standard and the labelling of the final products, provide to the consumer a documented element (the non-use of antibiotics in the animal rearing) and at the same time, the Mark is connected with the healthy way of rearing the animals in the free pastures and as a result, with the superior quality characteristics of the final products. Last but not least, the NON ANTIBIOTIC CERT products can highlight the necessity of their participation in the diet, always in the context that the Mediterranean Diet recommends.

GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE

The Project Partners’ geographical area covers the Central Macedonia Region (areas of Serres, Thessaloniki, Chalkidiki and Pieria) and the Region of Western Macedonia (areas of Kozani). Therefore, taking under consideration the multitude of the agricultural products of animal origin and the Partners’ geographical area, the dynamics of the NON ANTIBIOTIC CERT Project covers a large part of Northern Greece and the main part of Greek livestock products. Practically, the field of application for the NON ANTIBIOTIC CERT Standard may cover the greatest part of Greece. The repeatability of the sampling and the participation of a large number of recognized prestige Research Institutes and high-potential research personnel, ensure the extraction of safe conclusions and results.