ICAR Compliance: Animal Identification & Recording

Scope: Global Certification for FluxCow "Immortal Tag"
Authority: International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR)
Standard: ISO 11784 / ISO 11785

1. Regulatory Overview

ICAR acts as the registration authority for ISO standards regarding animal RFID. For our device to be used in official national traceability systems (SNIG, MGAP, etc.), it must pass ICAR's testing protocols.

Core Standards

ISO 11784 (Code Structure): Defines the 15-digit identification number.
- Example: 858 000001234567 (858 is the country code for Uruguay).
ISO 11785 (Technical Interface): Defines the communication protocol between the reader and the transponder (Tag).
- Frequency: 134.2 kHz (standard for livestock).

2. Certification Requirements

Manufacturer Code

To produce official tags, we must use an ICAR-approved 3-digit Manufacturer Code (if using a private brand) or a 3-digit Country Code (if authorized by the government).

[!IMPORTANT] When sourcing hardware from China or Europe, we must verify that the RFID chip provider has a valid ICAR manufacturer code.

Mandatory Tests

Conformance Test (ISO 24631-1): Validates that the bit pattern and technical interface comply strictly with ISO specs.
Performance Test (ISO 24631-3): Measures modulation amplitude, resonance frequency, and minimum activation field strength.
Environmental Durability: ICAR tests the physical retention and legibility of tags under UV exposure, temperature cycles (-40°C to +85°C), and chemical stress.

3. Implications for FluxCow Architecture

Technology Choice: Although FDX-B is common, HDX (Half Duplex) is often preferred for livestock due to its better performance in high-interference environments (metal gates, large groups). Uruguay's SNIG requires HDX.
Tag Design: The mechanical design must be "tamper-evident" and single-use to comply with ICAR's integrity standards.

References: * ICAR Official Guidelines - Section 10 * ISO 24631: RFID Performance Testing