USDA proposes rule on animal traceability
Washington Ag Today August 10, 2011 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack yesterday announced a proposed rule for animal disease traceability that will require livestock moving interstate to be officially identified unless specifically exempted. Vilsack: “It will indeed be administered by states and tribal nations. It will only apply to livestock moved interstate, it encourages the use of low cost technology and it will be implemented transparently.” Animals moving interstate would have to be accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection or other documents, such as owner-shipper statements or brand certificates. USDA’s Chief Veterinarian Dr. John Clifford elaborates on when brands would be acceptable identification. Clifford: “And they can be utilized between two brand states as long as both states agree to that. Plus, they can be utilized within the state itself that has those brands.” Clifford points out that there are only 14 brand states. Clifford: “The other 36 states in this country do not have that system in place and basically if we allow brands to stay official we would be saying to those other 36 states you would have to implement a system that is not in place in those and put an additional burden on those states and those producers within those states.” Secretary Vilsack said Congress would need to appropriate about 14.5 million annually for the traceability program. There is a 90-day public comment period on the proposed rule. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net. ? ?
