Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 2/5/10

USDA announced it is scrapping the controversial voluntary National Animal Identification Program in effect since 2004 and will shift responsibility to the states for a new program that would apply only to animals that move in interstate commerce.

"It is apparent that a new strategy for animal disease traceability is needed," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a news release, referring to the results of a 15-city listening tour he conducted on NAIS. Over five years, the program had so far garnered only 40 percent participation, drew fire from Congress for being ineffective and drew fire from ranchers for intruding into their private lives and finances.

USDA announced a framework of basic tenets for improved animal disease traceability capability in the United States that would:

• Apply only to animals moved in interstate commerce;
• Be administered by the states and tribal nations to provide more flexibility;
• Encourage the use of lower-cost technology; and
• Be implemented transparently through federal regulations and the full rulemaking process.

"We are committed to working in partnership with states, tribal nations and industry in the coming months to address many of the details of this framework, and giving ample opportunity for farmers and ranchers and the public to provide us with continued input through this process," said Vilsack.

USDA will convene a forum with animal health leaders for the states and tribal nations on possible ways to achieve a flexible, coordinated approach to animal disease traceability. Additionally, USDA will be revamping the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Animal Health to address specific issues, such as confidentiality and liability.

In conjunction with this announcement, USDA said it will also take the following actions to strengthen protections against the entry and spread of animal disease:

• Accelerate actions to lessen the risk from diseases such as tuberculosis posed by imported animals;
• Initiate and update analyses on how animal diseases travel into the country;
• Improve response capabilities; and
• Focus on greater collaboration and analyses with states and industry on potential disease risk overall.

More information on USDA's new direction on animal traceability and the steps to improve disease prevention and control is available here.