USDA Halts Cattle ID Traceability Project
Last April, APHIS posted a factsheet to provide
producers with information about the Agency's guidelines and goals related to
Animal Disease Traceability. Since the Factsheet was posted, APHIS has listened
to the livestock industry's feedback. In light of these comments and current
Executive Branch policy, APHIS believes that we should revisit those
guidelines. APHIS has removed the Factsheet from its Web site, as it is no
longer representative of current agency policy.
Recent executive orders have highlighted the need
for transparency and communication on the issues set forth in the Factsheet
before placing any new requirements on American farmers and ranchers. See
Executive Orders 13891 and 13892. Consistent with these orders, APHIS has
decided not to implement the requirements outlined in the April 2019 Factsheet
regarding the type of identification devices that USDA-APHIS will regard as
official eartags and the dates by which they must be applied to cattle.
While the need to advance a robust joint
Federal-State-Industry Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) capability remains an
important USDA-APHIS objective, we will take the time to reconsider the path
forward and then make a new proposal, with ample opportunity for all
stakeholders to comment.
As we undertake this reconsideration of whether or
when to put new requirements in place, we will encourage the use of Radio
Frequency Identification (RFID) devices through financial incentives that are
also consistent with suggestions we have received from cow/calf producers and
others. We continue to believe that RFID devices will provide the cattle
industry with the best protection against the rapid spread of animal diseases,
as well as meet the growing expectations of foreign and domestic buyers.
It is important to note that despite any future actions
USDA-APHIS may take regarding official identification devices, the underlying
ADT regulations apply only to sexually intact beef animals over 18 months of
age moving in interstate commerce, cattle used for exhibition, rodeo and
recreational events, and all dairy cattle. Those regulations permit brands and
tattoos as acceptable identification if the shipping and receiving States
agree.
USDA's goals to enhance Animal Disease Traceability
(ADT) have not changed; our aim is to:
- Encourage the use of electronic identification for
animals that move interstate under the current ADT regulation;
- Enhance electronic sharing of basic animal disease
traceability data; o - Enhance the ability to track animals from birth to
slaughter; and
- Increase the use of electronic health certificates
Source: USDA news release