In a global economy, animal health concerns and their potential to spark trade embargos makes animal identification using RFID technology an even more critical need. The ability to trace back through the food production chain provides national and international health agencies a valuable tool in controlling the spread of disease. Producers can also assure exporters that a specific animal has not been exposed to an infectious disease, medicine or food additives. Animal identification presents some unique challenges to technology suppliers. Most asset tracking applications keep products under strict human control on assembly lines and in warehouses and trucks. Livestock and wild animals tagged for environmental studies are alive and often free to move through a variety of environments.