05/09/05 USDA timeline on animal ID

American Rancher May 9, 2005 Late last week the USDA released its most detailed timeline yet regarding the development and implementation of a National Animal Identification System. The documents are described as a thinking paper and not a rule at this point.. USDA chief veterinarian Doctor Ron DeHaven says USDA's thinking is to have a system that starts out voluntary and becomes mandatory. DeHaven: "The strategic document will suggest that by April of 2007 we would start putting out alerts to producers that we are soon going to be requiring individual animal ID and premises registrations with the thought process being that in January of 2008 we would have mandatory premise registration and individual animal ID. Then by January 2009 we would have a mandatory requirement for reporting animal movements so that we could track animals through the system." Bill Hawks, USDA Under Secretary, says he heard first hand at listening sessions just how important the confidentiality of ID records is to producers and the USDA draft plan says the department will seek legislation protecting the data. Hawks: "If you can protect the confidentiality then I think all of the producers will be coming on board with it." The USDA wants feed back on this thinking paper. You can get more information at www dot usda dot gov slash nais I'm Bob Hoff.