10/17/05 Confidentiality and animal ID

American Rancher October 17, 2005 The USDA has thrown its support behind a National Animal Identification System in which the private sector maintains animal movement data. But does that guarantee confidentiality? At a recent congressional hearing Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation said no and called for legislation on the issue. Stallman: "USDA has repeatedly said that confidentiality can be maintained as long as the program is voluntary. However, they have also said that legislative authority will be needed to protect that information when the ID program becomes mandatory and that their ability to protect confidentiality even under a voluntary system is based on case law rather than statutory authority. Privatizing the data base does not protect confidentiality if animal health officials are given the 24-7 access that they require. So it is imperative that Congress pass legislation to address this confidentiality issue." Stallman said there should also be legislation on liability. Stallman: "In other words when their animal is presented at the market at some point and has been accepted and inspected, that that meets the test for ordinary care. It should be a rebuttal presumption not immunity from any future action but a least it gives the producer some protection against things that may occur to the animal further down the line that is out of their control." I'm Bob Hoff.