09/19/06 Senator wants voluntary NAIS

Missouri Republican Senator Jim Talent is trying to prohibit mandatory animal identification. Talent says Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns doesn't have the authority to make the system mandatory. A member of the Senate Agriculture Committee Talent says his bill requires federal protection on any information that is collected through a voluntary program. TALENT "The idea here is go develop a voluntary premise system ID so that producers who believe it will help them with market opportunities can take advantage of it and those who don't want to don't have to." Talent contends that a well constructed voluntary system will give livestock producers the marketing tools they need to increase profits. TALENT "This data bank once its in place is going to give opportunities for marketing arrangements for producers who want to take advantage of that and you can imagine what that's going to be; you know, special arrangements with particular restaurant chains or retail operations." Missouri congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson has introduced companion legislation in the US House. She and Talent say they're hopeful that both Houses of Congress will approve the bills prior to the November recess. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott