SQNBA Animal Welfare

What is it?

The National Quality System for Animal Welfare (SQNBA) defines a production scheme recognised at national level, which establishes the general rules and technical requirements for the management of the breeding process , through the evaluation of parameters established on a scientific basis.

The System aims to represent a single reference provision in voluntary certification relating to animal welfare , thus bringing order to the various certification protocols currently existing in the same area, and at the same time contributing to clearer information for the consumer.

Who is it for?

SQNBA, destined to become the reference certification system for animal welfare in the breeding of all animal species of zootechnical interest, is currently applicable to bovine breeding – both for milk and meat production – and to swine breeding , for which the Scientific Technical Committee on Animal Welfare has defined and published the technical certification standards.

Key points

ACCESS PREREQUISITES

All farms intending to access SQNBA must demonstrate possession of certain prerequisites, which are assessed by completing the appropriate checklist available on the Classyfarm portal by the company veterinarian or a veterinarian in charge who has obtained the relevant qualification.

Possession of the SQNBA access prerequisites is displayed on Classyfarm with a green traffic light .
If all the prerequisites are not met, the traffic light will be red.
The color of the traffic light also depends on the outcome of the official checks received by the stable.
In case of problems that emerge during the Official control, the traffic light turns red.

TECHNICAL CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

The technical standard for the certification of breeding of each species is defined within the Disciplinaries, which define in detail the requirements to be respected for species, production orientation and breeding method.

The currently applicable regulations are the following:

• PIG - Fattening pigs (over 50 kg) free-range
• BOVINO - Dairy cattle in the stable
• BOVINO - Beef cattle breeding stall
• BOVINE - Family-run cattle (farms with up to 50 heads / raised to 90 heads in mountain areas)
• BOVNO - Cattle raised with or entirely on pasture

The System requires the certification to also include the activities carried out by Food Sector Operators , who intervene in the phases following primary production.

The subject of the certification for these operators is the Chain of Custody , which takes the form of the implementation of a traceability system dedicated to SQNBA products.

The technical standard for OSAs under SQNBA is given below:

• SQNBA Chain of Custody

Advantages

• Possibility to enhance your product by communicating the guarantee of animal welfare in a unique and nationally recognized way : the certification allows you to demonstrate to the consumer, who is increasingly sensitive to these issues, your commitment to animal welfare, through a certification standard defined at national level by the public Authority.
• Possibility for Primary Production Operators to access public contributions : obtaining the SQNBA certification is binding for the purposes of obtaining the contribution provided for by Ecoscheme 1 – Level 2 of the new CAP 2023/2027 , which rewards breeders who adopt improved practices compared to the minimum legal standards in terms of animal welfare.

To request a cost estimate for SQNBA certification, fill out the questionnaire found here