Standards Development

Scope

This document is intended for principals (purchasers) and service providers tasked with taking samples and conducting analyses (including analysis laboratories) that want to computerize and standardize their data exchanges, particularly in the animal health sector.

Purpose

The exchange of electronic analysis data in animal health was identified as a priority topic in the creation of the CEN/TC 469 in 2021. This subject is in line with the work of UN/CEFACT (The United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business), which developed in 2010 an international format called "eLabs". This is a data exchange standard for laboratory analyses in the agricultural sector, allowing the implementation of an electronic data exchange system guaranteeing interoperability within the network of actors, particularly between analysis laboratories and public and private prescribers. The fast and secure exchange of analytical data is one of the collective strategic actions on which veterinary public health is based, particularly in the public authorities domain. However, this exchange standard has not yet been applied specifically in the field of animal health at European level.

This work was developed in 2019 at the French level by the French committee on animal health, which published the national standard NF U47-700 dedicated to animal health based on the UN/CEFACT format "eLabs", Electronic Laboratory Observation Report. The specific challenges in the field of animal health analyses require the implementation of means of exchanging elecronic data between the stakeholders. The European Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) 2016/429) also calls for greater use of new information and communication technologies.