NAIS Abandoned
USDA announces new framework for animal disease traceability.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Feb. 5 that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will develop a new, flexible framework for animal disease traceability in the United States, and undertake several other actions to further strengthen its disease prevention and response capabilities.
"After concluding our listening tour on the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) 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," Vilsack said. "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."
The framework, announced at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Mid-Year meeting, provides the basic tenets of an improved animal disease traceability capability in the United States. USDA's efforts will:
• Only apply 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.
"One of my main goals for this new approach is to build a collaborative process for shaping and implementing our framework for animal disease traceability," Vilsack said. "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."
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 we envision. Additionally, USDA will be revamping the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Animal Health to address specific issues, such as confidentiality and liability.
Although USDA has a robust system in place to protect U.S. agriculture, with today's announcement, the Department will also be taking several additional actions to further strengthen protections against the entry and spread of disease. These steps will include accelerating actions to lessen the risk from diseases — such as tuberculosis — posed by imported animals, initiating and updating analyses on how animal diseases travel into the country, improving response capabilities, and focusing on greater collaboration and analyses with states and industry on potential disease risk overall.
"We appreciate Secretary Vilsack's commitment to addressing producers' concerns with animal ID," National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) President Steve Foglesong said following the announcement. "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.
"We encourage USDA to work closely with producers in the development of the framework moving forward," he continued. "It's important that the system is workable for producers, and accomplishes the goal of increased animal surveillance by enabling state and federal animal health officials to respond rapidly and effectively to animal health emergencies."
More information on USDA's new direction on animal traceability and the steps to improve disease prevention and control is available at www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability.
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