NEWS: Period Extended for Input on US Animal ID Plan See More
USAIP EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Protecting American animal agriculture by safeguarding animal health is vital to the wellbeing of
all U. S. citizens. It promotes human health; provides wholesome, reliable, and secure food
resources; mitigates national economic threats; and enhances a sustainable environment.
Essential to achieving this goal is an efficient and effective animal identification program.
Building upon previously established and successful animal health and animal identification
programs involving many animal industries, an industry-state-federal partnership, aided by the
National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA), was formed in 2002 to more uniformly
coordinate a national animal identification plan. This resulting plan, requested by the United
States Animal Health Association (USAHA) and facilitated by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS), was formulated in 2003 for presentation at the October, 2003
annual meeting of the USAHA. More than 100 animal industry and state-federal government
professionals representing more than 70 allied associations/organizations collectively assessed
and suggested workable improvements to the plan to meet future U. S. animal identification
needs.
Fundamental to controlling any disease threat, foreign or domestic, to the nation’s animal
resources is to have a system that can identify individual animals or groups, the premises where
they are located, and the date of entry to that premises. Further, in order to achieve optimal
success in controlling or eradicating an animal health threat, the ability to retrieve that
information within 48 hours of confirmation of a disease outbreak and to implement intervention
strategies is necessary. The USAIP is focused on utilizing state-of-the-art national and
international standards with the best available and practical technologies. It is dynamic and
flexible, and will incorporate new and proven technologies as they become available. States’
needs in implementing animal identification will receive priority within the uniformity provided by
federal oversight.
The USAIP currently supports the following species and/or industries: bison, beef cattle, dairy
cattle, swine, sheep, goats, camelids (alpacas and llamas), horses, cervids (deer and elk),
poultry (eight species including game birds), and aquaculture (eleven species). Implementation
will be in three phases: Phase I involves premises identification; Phase II involves individual or
group/lot identification for interstate and intrastate commerce; and Phase III involves retrofitting
remaining processing plants and markets and other industry segments with appropriate
technology that will enhance our ability to track animals throughout the livestock marketing
chain to protect and improve the health of the national herd. Initial implementation will focus on
the cattle, swine, and small ruminant industries. In transition, the USAIP recommends that:
all states have a premises identification system in place by July, 2004; unique,
individual or group/lot numbers be available for issuance by February, 2005;
all cattle, swine, and small ruminants possess individual or group/lot identification for
interstate movement by July, 2005;
all animals of the remaining species/industries identified above be in similar
compliance by July, 2006.
These standards will apply to all animals within the represented industries regardless of their
intended use as seedstock, commercial, pets or other personal uses.
It is well acknowledged that costs associated with the USAIP will be substantial and that a
public/private funding plan is justified. Significant state and federal costs will be incurred in
overseeing, maintaining, updating, and improving necessary infrastructure. Continued efforts
will be required to seek federal and state financial support for this integral component of
safeguarding animal health in protecting American animal agriculture.
usaip.info |
