Update On Animal Identification In The U.S.

From: American Horse Council
Re: EQUINE WORKING GROUP PROVIDES VIEWS TO USDA ON ANIMAL ID
Date: 9/17/04

EQUINE WORKING GROUP PROVIDES VIEWS TO USDA ON ANIMAL ID

The Equine Species Working Group has advised the U.S. Department of Agriculture that it supports the initial approach that the Department is taking in organizing a national animal ID system to deal with animal diseases and their effects. But, the Group cautioned, that the horse industry has unique issues and concerns that must be considered in the process.

"We are pleased that USDA seems to be taking a prudent, methodical approach to implementing a national animal ID system," said Dan Fick, Executive Vice President of The Jockey Club and Co-Chair of the Equine Species Working Group. "The Department recognizes that data must be protected by any system and that all components must be in place and tested before any system can be made mandatory. These principles are fundamental since the horse industry is very concerned about confidentiality, practicality and cost."

The ESWG includes representatives from over thirty equine associations, state veterinarians and others involved in the horse industry. It has been evaluating the national animal ID plan, its benefits and costs to the horse industry, and considering how the industry might develop a system for equine identification that would fit into the national plan.

USDA Solicits Input

In July, USDA asked for comments on its approach to the much-discussed National Animal Identification System. Specifically it sought suggestions on a timetable, whether the system should be voluntary or mandatory, and to which species it should apply. The ESWG comments were submitted in response. USDA will now review all the responses and propose any new federal rules needed to implement a national animal ID for disease control.

USDA noted that the primary purpose of a national animal ID system is to address animal health emergencies. Presently, the system is calling for (1) an identification number for each animal "premise" involved; (2) an identification number for each animal or lot of animals that is part of the system; and (3) a location, time and date stamp so that animals can be "traced" in the event of a major disease outbreak.

ESWG Comments

In its comments, the ESWG noted that the horse industry is a very diverse industry that involves a wide variety of activities in all regions of the country. "One characteristic of horses not common to other livestock is how often they move, intrastate, interstate and internationally. The size, diversity and structure of the horse industry present unique issues in developing a national equine identification system."

The ESWG comments emphasized "that a very important concern to the horse industry is the confidentiality of any data collected and the access to such data. Without confidence that data is secure and accessibility well-controlled, the industry cannot support a national animal ID system."

The Group maintained that any national system should allow the industry the flexibility to use existing identification systems or adopt new ones. It must respect the specific and individual needs of the species involved. There is no "one-size-fits-all" system.

Obviously, an overriding concern is who pays for the development and infrastructure to implement an equine identification program. "Since disease control is of national import and under the supervision of the federal government, the major portion of any funding should be provided by the federal government as part of the federal budget," the ESWG concluded.

"With so many questions outstanding, it is almost speculative to predict when a program should transition from a voluntary to a mandated system," the Group concluded. "Nonetheless, making any animal ID system mandatory should only be considered after confidentiality is ensured; a consensus on the national standards formed; and technology and procedures tested, implemented and found successful. Making a system mandatory for any species before that species can comply with it will cause irreparable harm to this effort."

"Even when a system is in place and working," the Group suggested "that there be a transition period from voluntary to mandatory and that any requirements be phased-in for different livestock sectors as proposed by species working groups, including the ESWG."

The ESWG recommended that the initial focus of the system should be on food animals. Because of the scope of the required system, other animals, such as horses and animals that come into contact with, and can pose a disease threat to, food animals, can be included in the longer-term as the system proves workable. But "the application of the system to each species should be pursuant to a timetable laid out by the various species working groups."

"The ESWG is working on these and other issues now," said Fick. "Our comments highlight our concerns about a national ID system and its application to the horse industry. This is going to be a complicated process given the size and diversity of the horse industry, the mobility of horses and their owners, and existing horse ID systems that need to be considered for incorporation into any national system. Obviously there are many issues still to be resolved and the horse industry must be engaged at each step in the process."

 I have seen quite a few alarming emails regarding the plan to identify livestock in the United States. The US Animal Identification Plan (USAIP) has been developed by a team representing the nation’s largest livestock groups and focuses on enhancing the nation's ability to locate and trace individual animals and/or groups of animals within 48 hours if an animal health emergency should arise. This plan has been in the making for quite some time and the cattle, swine and other industries that are affected by outbreaks of disease created the existing proposal. Recently, two bills have been introduced into Congress that would require mandatory ID of all livestock, including horses within a short period of time after passage. These are only proposed bills at this point, but if passed, the whole process of identifying all livestock, including horses, would go forward quickly. That said, there is still no concrete plan to identify all horses. The existing USAIP plan has been accelerated since the first case of BSE has been detected in the U.S. and many of the cattle originally imported from Canada with the BSE infected cow cannot be found. For this and many other reasons, Congress, animal industry, law enforcement and others are calling for a way to quickly identify livestock in the case of a disease outbreak, bioterrorism or other event that would require quick identification.

NEW INFORMATION

Two Federal Bills have been introduced regarding Animal ID

Since it seems there is a lot of confusion and misinformation on this subject, I have endeavored to gather the facts about this subject and begin communicating them through the rodeo business and others interested in this very important subject.

BACKGROUND

The American Horse Council provided this background information after a presentation by Dr. Ragan of the USDA at the American Horse Council Convention (before BSE was discovered in the U.S.) and explains why the process of identifying livestock is so important:

Dr. Valerie Ragan, Assistant Deputy Administrator, Veterinary Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), provided an overview on the status and rationale for the development of a national animal identification system. Dr. Ragan noted that the overriding rationale for a national ID system is “to protect the national herd, not only against emergency disease incursions, but also against routine domestic diseases to get them under better control.”

A foreign disease could be introduced into the U.S., either accidentally or possible intentionally, she noted. “Being able to isolate the animals exposed and documenting where they have been would be extremely important in limiting the effects on the U.S. of any disease introduction,” Dr. Ragan said.

In response to this concern, the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) organized an Animal Identification Task Force some years ago and it has prepared an initial work plan for different species group. The long-term objective of the plan is “to be able to identify all premises and all animals that have had contact with a disease of concern within 48 hours. Now it takes anywhere from a few days to several months,” Dr. Ragan noted.

Dr. Ragan noted that plans are progressing rapidly at this point in the other livestock sectors. The focus is “on cattle and swine at the present time because those species are at the highest risks for disease situations. We are not developing an equine identification system, we are not even there yet,” Dr. Ragan said.

Dr. Ragan recognized there is a lot of concern about who will have access to what data and that is justified. “We are trying to build onto systems already in place and kept by producers. But we don’t need all information in those systems, only key pieces of information that will allow us to track an animal in case of a disease outbreak. For example, production records will not be made available to USDA.”

Dr. Ragan noted that there are plans “to expand into other sectors, like equine and aquaculture. Nothing is mandatory at this stage. We must have a system in place that is tried, and tested and proven and there is a reason for it before it might be made mandatory,” she concluded. “We will be developing this and we encourage you to look at this effort and decide if you want to join in. We are happy to work with you if you do.

THE HORSE INDUSTRY

Currently some of the information has been circulating says that a plan for horse identification is already in the works. The American Horse Council has created a task force of representatives from the Horse Industry to study this subject and AHC will continue discussions with the USDA regarding the subject and if such a mandatory plan seems inevitable, AHC will continue to work to make sure the industry shapes such a plan. Currently the horse industry in Canada is working to create a plan and present it to members of the horse industry for approval. See the article before for more information on the Canadian plan.

Recent articles on the subject:

The House Agriculture Committee has just announced that a field hearing on the subject will be held in Houston on March 5, 2004. Please contact me if you would like more information on this hearing.

National Animal ID Bill In House

Date: 02/14/2004
Web posted at: 12:00 p.m. EDT

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WASHINGTON (DTN) -- A National Farm Animal Identification and Records Act was introduced in the House Tuesday which would require the Agriculture Department to set up a national mandatory animal identification program within 90 days of enactment.

The bill, authored by Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., Rep. James Walsh, R-N.Y., Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., and others, authorizes $175 million to implement the program and exempts it from the Freedom of Information Act.

Under the bill, the government would buy tags and farmers and ranchers would be responsible for attaching them to animals.

The discovery of mad cow disease in a Canadian-born dairy cow in Washington state in December has increased pressure to create an animal identification system that could be used to trace the history of a diseased animal quickly.

But some livestock groups are resisting the idea of a government-run mandatory animal identification system, saying they fear consumer and animal rights groups could use the data to sue farmers.

Other farm groups say they fear a private system because the information could be used to manipulate livestock markets. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman has said she is considering a system, but has not set a timetable for establishing one.

Noting that most countries have banned U.S. beef since the discovery of the case of BSE and that the Agriculture Department on Monday ended its investigation into the case after finding only 28 of the 80 cows in the diseased cow's original herd, Peterson said if the United States does not put an animal identification system in place it may be impossible to export beef. An animal identification system would make it possible to check an animal's history within 48 hours, Peterson said.

Peterson, Walsh, who is a member of the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, and Ross, the ranking member on the House Agriculture Livestock Subcommittee, all said the system needs to be national, mandatory and run by the USDA.

The bill does not specify any system, but Peterson noted that the USDA has paid for a pilot project involving Holstein cows that has developed an ear tag system that involves radio transmission to track the animals. An Agriculture Department task force that includes 70 livestock groups has also been working on the issue.

Peterson said he wants a national government-run system because he does not want livestock lobbying groups to enter into relationships with private companies to start systems to make money on animal identification.

Asked about the prospects for the FOIA exemption being enacted, Peterson noted that House Government Reform Chairman Tom Davis, R- Va., is a co-sponsor and Davis's committee has jurisdiction over FOIA.

Asked about the relationship of this bill to country of origin labeling of red meat, Peterson described himself as a supporter of labeling and said an animal identification program would make labeling easier, but said he does not want the labeling issue to become involved in this debate because it might derail passage.

Labeling, Peterson said, is a "marketing issue" while animal identification is for "food safety."