Traceability Power Given Back to States

After touring the country hosting listening sessions, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has changed the focus from national animal identification to disease traceability.

In 2003, farmers faced a bleak Christmas when authorities scrambled for days trying to find the origin of the first domestic case of BSE. And although it seemed the case brought identification to the forefront, implementation has been slow and many voiced strong concerns about a national program.

Now the Obama Administration has announced a new framework for the National Animal Identification System.

"After concluding our listening tour on the National Animal Identification System in 15 cities across the country, receiving thousands of comments from the public and input from States, Tribal Nations, industry groups, and representatives for small and organic farmers, it is apparent that a new strategy for animal disease traceability is needed," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "I've decided to revise the prior policy and offer a new approach to animal disease traceability with changes that respond directly to the feedback we heard."

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Steve Foglesong says, "The plan appears to lay the foundation for a flexible approach to animal disease traceability, including greater state-involvement and choices in the use of technology."

USDA said the goal is to achieve basic, effective animal disease traceability and response to animal disease outbreaks without overly burdening producers. It will work with existing USDA disease programs, incorporating the identification requirements for those programs.

In addition, the program will now only apply to animals moved in interstate commerce. Small producers who raise animals and move them within a State, Tribal Nation, or to local markets, as well as to feed themselves, their families, and their neighbors are not a part of the framework’s scope and focus.

It also gives the power back to the states and tribal nations to provide more flexibility. USDA also stated it will be implemented transparently through federal regulations and the full rulemaking process. The federal government will act as a support system for the states in the endeavor.

The new approach will be less federally intrusive and protect producers' information as well as overcome some of the mistrust caused by NAIS.

One of USDA's first steps will be to convene a forum with animal health leaders for the States and Tribal Nations to initiate a dialogue about the possible ways of achieving the flexible, coordinated approach to animal disease traceability it envisions.

“The Secretary has signaled he is going back to the drawing board to develop a new system that does not infringe upon the rights and privileges of U.S. cattle farmers and ranchers as did NAIS,” said Max Thornsberry, R-CALF president and veterinarian from Missouri. “This is exactly what we’ve been urging USDA to do for the past five years. Our organization has expended considerable resources trying to put a halt to NAIS, and we’re pleased that our members’ efforts have finally come to fruition.”

Read more at this USDA Fact Sheet.