The House Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Subcommittee cut all funding for the voluntary National Animal Identification System (NAIS) for fiscal year 2011, according to a statement by Chairwoman, Rosa L. DeLauro.
DeLauro states, "We have spent over $147 million on this program since 2004. And six years later, we still have not seen a clear plan from USDA on successful implementation, even after they shifted to a more fragmented system in 2010. While the administration asked for $14.2 million for this program, we do not feel it is a good use of resources to fund NAIS until the agency develops a clear plan for a mandatory system with measurable goals, long-term funding levels, and a plan for successful implementation." For DeLauro's full statement on the subcommittee's appropriations for fiscal year 2011, click here.
The NAIS is a voluntary program intended to trace animals movements in the event of a disease outbreak. In light of the discovery of "bovine spongiform encephalopathy" in 2003 and other diseases, some are strong proponents of the program. Others oppose a traceability program citing financial costs, civil rights, and religious concerns.
While NAIS is currently unfunded, many are optimistic that given a clear long term plan, budget, and outcomes, a traceability program is possible, according to Dairy Herd Management.
The United States Animal Health Association (USAHA) and the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) will co-host a forum to discuss animal disease traceability on August 30-31 in Denver, CO. The purpose of the forum is to gain input on preliminary standards being developed by USDA's Traceability Regulatory Working Group and facilitate discussion between state and tribal animal health officials, animal owners, livestock marketers and meat processors. To read the USAHA news release, click here.
For more information on Animal Identification, click here to visit the National Agricultural Law Center's reading room on this topic.
To read the Dairy Herd Management story, click here.
To read the Meat Trade News Daily story, click here.
For more information on the House Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Subcommittee, click here.
Posted: 07/16/2010
