During USDA's comment period for the proposed national livestock identification program—or traceability rule-- the National Pork Producers Council submitted comments on behalf of the Swine Identification Implementation Task Force. In its comments, NPPC said - a valid traceability system would save millions of animals, reduce the financial burden on the food-animal industry and save the American taxpayer millions of dollars.
NPPC has been a strong advocate for animal traceability across all species for the sake of securing the health of the national herd. NPPC's comments illustrated the fact that the United States does not have an official pre-harvest traceability system could have significant negative ramifications on preparation, response and continuity of operations should there be a foreign animal disease outbreak in the country.
The U.S. pork industry has had an animal identification system in place since 1987. Today, approximately 95% of U.S. pork producers have registered their premises within the system. Still, NPPC fully supports a mandatory, species-specific, pre-harvest traceability system for all livestock and poultry involved in interstate commerce regardless of the rearing method or operation size.