Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the U.S. Animal
Identification Plan
1.
What is the U.
S. Animal Identification Plan?
2. What is the National Animal Identification System
(NAIS)?
3. What’s
the difference between the USAIP and the NAIS?
4.
Why is a national animal identification system needed?
5. Is this plan part of Country of Origin Labeling (COOL)?
6. Why is
48-hour traceback capability needed?
7. What
are the benefits for producers in adopting the U.S. Animal Identification
Plan/NAIS?
8. How
much will the program cost?
9. Who will
pay for the identification system?
10. Where do
I get a premises ID?
11. What forms of
identification will be used?
12.
Do I have to
eartag my horse?
13. Where do
I get an official ID tag or device?
14. Will animal owners need to have a radio frequency identification (RFID)
reader?
15. Who will pay for RFID readers and their installation in markets and
slaughter plants? Who will pay for the electronic identification
devices?
16. If
I am currently using an ID program through a private service or marketing
alliance, will my ID be usable in the USAIP?
17. Should
I, or my State Cattle Association, consider options for aligning ourselves
with a database management provider so I can be sure I comply with the
USAIP?
18. Who
will be responsible for applying identification to animals?
19. What is a tagging station and where will such stations be located?
20. If I raise animals for my own use and
they never leave my property, do they need to be identified?
21.
If I only show my animals or take them to
trail rides do they need to be identified?
22.
What is “commingling”?
23. What data will be required to be kept, by whom and in what form?
24. Who will have access to information in the National Animal ID Databases?
25. What species are included in the program?
26. Will this
be a mandatory program?
27. Will I be able to sell my livestock if they are not officially
identified?
28. Can
animals be identified as a group?
29. What
are the penalties for not using the program?
30. What are the liability issues of this program for
animal owners?
31. What is the timeline for implementing this program?
32. Who has
developed this plan?
33. Who is on the Team?
34. What government entities will have oversight of this plan?
35.
What will be the ID requirements for animals entering the United States
from other countries?
36.
With
the phase-out of existing official animal identification devices by July
2005, what will happen with Brucellosis
vaccination tags? Will they still be used?
37. What will happen with the national Scrapie eradication program's ID
system?
38.
Where can interested stakeholders go to obtain more information about this
plan?
39. Is there still time to have input into the plan?
1. What
is the U. S. Animal Identification Plan?
The U.S. Animal Identification Plan (USAIP) defines the standards
and framework for implementing and maintaining a phased-in national animal
identification system for the United States.
2. What is the National Animal
Identification System (NAIS)?
On
April 27, 2004, Agriculture
Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced the framework for implementation of a
National Animal Identification System (NAIS) designed to identify any
agricultural premise exposed to a foreign animal disease so that it can be
more quickly contained and eradicated. She further also announced that
$18.8 million would be transferred from the USDA Commodity Credit
Corporation (CCC) to provide initial funding for the program during FY
2004.
“While
many livestock species in the United States can be identified through a
variety of systems, a verifiable system of national animal identification
will enhance our efforts to respond to intentionally or unintentionally
introduced animal disease outbreaks more quickly and effectively,” Veneman
said. “This framework is the result of concerted efforts to expedite the
implementation of a system that meets our goals and enables farmers and
ranchers to adapt existing identification programs and to use all existing
forms of effective technologies.”
The U.S. Animal
Identification Plan (USAIP) is a detailed plan created by industry
representatives over the course of two year to address national animal
identification. The U.S. Animal Health Association accepted the USAIP as a
work in progress in October 2003. Subsequently, USDA adopted the data
standards of USAIP for the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).
Moreover, USDA is using USAIP as a guide as it drafts other standards
required for NAIS implementation. As NAIS is developed and implemented,
the USAIP development team and species-specific USAIP working groups
continue to provide input.
4. Why is a
national animal identification system needed?
5. Is this plan part of Country of Origin Labeling (COOL)?
No, the USAIP is not intended to be a part of Country of Origin
Labeling. The plan’s sole intent is to create the ability to track animal
disease to its source within a 48-hour period.
However, animal
owners may be able to use information collected under the USAIP/NAIS
should they wish to participate in a voluntary COOL program.
6. Why is 48-hour traceback capability
needed?
To protect the health of
the U.S. herd, sound scientific principles indicate that being able to
track and contain a disease event within 48 hours is essential. For the
industry to maintain confidence in animal health, it will need to
demonstrate its ability to meet this standard.
7. What are the benefits for producers in
adopting the U.S. Animal Identification Plan/NAIS?
The adoption of a national identification system will help secure
the health of the national herd. The program will provide animal owners
and animal health officials with the infrastructure to improve efforts in
current disease eradication and control; protect against foreign and
domestic animal disease outbreaks; and provide infrastructure to address
threats from deliberate introduction of disease.
The industry may
integrate the standards and technologies defined in the USAIP with their
management systems and performance recording programs. The utilization of
the same ID technologies for both regulatory and industry programs allows
for the development of a more cost-effective and user-friendly system for
the animal owner. Animal owners can also benefit from additional animal
identification information obtained to improve production efficiencies and
add value to their animals. However, the information systems are
completely separate; production data will not be transmitted to nor
maintained in the national identification databases.
8. How much
will the program cost?
It is difficult to
quantify the cost of a fully operational system since all of the needed
components have not yet been fully defined. Work currently being done by
the USAIP Working Groups and by USDA will help better estimate those
costs.
9. Who will pay for
the identification system?
It is anticipated that the federal government and all industry
stakeholders will share in the costs of an identification system.
10. Where do I get a premises ID?
The
responsibility of administration and maintenance of premises ID lies with
each state’s department of agriculture. Once the system is operational,
State departments will use a national mechanism to obtain a unique
national premises ID, and will record additional information such as type
of premises, contact name, address, and phone number to contact the person
in charge of a premises. Key pieces of information will be sent to the
national premises database that can be used in the case of a disease
trace-back.
11. What forms of identification will
be used?
The form of animal identification used is
intended to optimize accuracy; promote efficient information transfer; and
be practical and effective in its application for individual species
and/or industries. Species groups are helping to design a system that may
or may not use accompanying visible ID.
For example, the cattle industry plans to use
radio frequency identification (RFID) technology using an eartag
attachment. Other species are exploring methods suitable for their
industries, although effective official identification methods as
described in the 9 CFR will be maintained for certain species. Electronic
identification may be necessary for efficient and accurate data collection
and animal tracking in some species or in particular animal movement
scenarios. It is position of the USAIP / NAIS to remain open to new forms
of technology as they are developed and proven, and if they provide more
efficient and cost-effective means of identifying animals.
12. Do I have to eartag my horse?
No. Species Working Groups are aware of traditional methods of
identifying animals and will not recommend methods that are contrary to
current practices. The goal is to provide valid identification without
compromising other needs of a given species.
13. Where
do I get an official ID tag or device?
Currently, the distribution mechanism for ID devices is being discussed,
and it has not yet been determined where and how a producer can obtain
official ID devices at this time.
14. Will animal owners need to have a radio frequency identification (RFID)
reader?
Radio frequency (RF) technology is the form of electronic
identification that is currently being recommended for cattle by USAIP’s
Beef and Dairy Working Groups. Animal owners that utilize RFID for
official identification will not necessarily need to have a RFID reader.
For example, the producer will be able to record the RFID code of the
electronic device before it is applied to an animal and cross-reference
the code with a visual-tag number. This will allow them to maintain a
record of the RFID code without having to read (scan) the transponder.
For cattle, the plan calls for the utilization of a RFID eartag attachment
on which the RFID code is to be printed for visual readability. While
reading and recording the RFID code manually is not ideal, it can be
achieved.
15. Who will pay for RFID readers and their installation in markets and
slaughter plants? Who will pay for the electronic identification devices?
The plan is being developed as an industry-government partnership, so it
is expected that industry and the government will share the cost of the
necessary elements. Exactly how those costs will be shared is currently
under discussion within the various Species Working Groups.
16. If I am currently using an ID program through a private service or
marketing alliance, will my ID be usable in the USAIP?
Yes, assuming the program you are using will be compliant with
the official USAIP/NAIS standards.
17. Should I, or my State Cattle Association, consider options for
aligning ourselves with a database management provider so I can be sure I
comply with the USAIP/NAIS?
The USAIP Steering
Committee would characterize such action as premature. There is definitely
no urgency as no immediate implementation requirements have been
established. The program will be phased in over time, and an adequate
transition period will be established for animal owners to work into the
system.
The
USDA is taking necessary steps to have the standards established as
official; the U.S. Animal Identification Number is an example. The
standards established in the USAIP are to be recognized as official, so
industry initiatives that are developing programs containing an ID
component may start to incorporate them if they so desire. Additionally,
this will allow the standards to be used in various pilot projects that
are being formulated. Also,
please note that the timetables outlined in the USAIP are target dates,
which will be updated through consensus of the Species Working Groups.
18.
Who will be responsible for applying identification to animals?
During the phase in
period, animals will need to be identified as they leave whatever premises
they are on regardless of where they were born. After the first few years
of the program, identifying animals will be the responsibility of the
“premises of birth” animal owners. For animal owners who lack equipment
for individual identification, “tagging stations” will be available.
19. What is a tagging station and where will such stations be located?
A tagging station is an entity operating from a fixed location
that has been officially approved by USDA/APHIS to apply ID devices to
animals that are required to be identified. The USAIP work plan recognizes
that not all animal owners will have facilities to individually tag
animals before they leave their premises of origin. Therefore, animal
owners who are required to individually tag animals that leave the
premises of origin can elect to transport animals to an approved tagging
station and pay the operator of the tagging station a fee to apply
individual animal ID devices and report the ID information to the central
database. Such tagging stations may include, but not be limited to, an
existing livestock marketing facility, a veterinary clinic, a fairgrounds
or a facility specifically dedicated to performing tagging services.
20. If I raise animals for my own use and they
never leave my property, do they need to be identified?
Under the current
plan, animals that never leave a premise do not need to be identified.
However, animal owners are encouraged to identify their animals and their
premises, regardless of the number of animals present, as many animal
diseases may be spread regardless if an animal does not leave its home
premises. Examples may include West Nile Virus, Foot and Mouth Disease,
Vesicular Stomatitus, and Equine Infectious Anemia.
21.
If I only show my
animals or take them to trail rides do they need to be identified?
When showing or
commingling animals with animals from multiple premises, the possibility
of spreading disease becomes a factor and those animals then will need to
be identified.
22.
What is
“commingling”?
Commingling may be defined as an animal having contact with, or
being inter-mixed with animals other than herdmates from that animal’s
premises of origin.
23. What data will be required to be kept, by whom
and in what form?
This part of the plan is under development by USAIP/NAIS. It is
anticipated that the final plan will be user-friendly such that it will be
easy for all stakeholders to implement and make part of their daily
practice. Ideally, animal movements will be electronically tracked and
sent from the stakeholders to the central database. For the plan to be
successful, this key part, i.e. data entry, will need to be easy to
follow, thus achievable in real-time such that data entry becomes a
routine management practice.
Only essential information will be reported to the central
database. In the case of individual animals, this is: 1) an USAIN (US
Animal Identification Number), 2) the premises ID that the USAIN was seen
at or allocated to, 3) the date it was seen or allocated, and 4) an
appropriate event code (e.g. sighting, movement-in, movement-out, etc.).
Additional information that can be important in a disease trace-back such
as species, breed, sex, age or date of birth can also be reported if
available. In the case of group or lot movements, the key data are the
groups’ Lot ID number, the premises ID where the Lot ID number was seen,
and the date it was seen. If specie is available, this can also be
provided to the central database.
The goal of the work
plan is to work with existing information systems so additional recording
of information by animal owners and others responsible for reporting
animal movements is minimized.
24. Who will have access to information in the
National Animal ID Databases?
Only state and federal health officials will have access to the
premises and animal ID information when performing their duties to
maintain the health of the national herd. Proper safeguards are being
researched and will be put in place to ensure that the data is protected
from public disclosure.
25. What species are included in the
USAIP/NAIS?
The USAIP/NAIS is being
developed for all animals that will benefit from having a system to
facilitate rapid traceback/traceout in the event of disease concern.
Currently Working Groups are developing plans for Cattle/Bison, Swine,
Sheep, Goats, Equine, and Camelids (Llamas and Alpacas).
26. Will this be a
mandatory program?
Efforts are geared toward developing a national animal
identification program that will provide for the ability to rapidly track
animals exposed to a disease concern, and will meet the needs of animal
owners, animal industries, domestic and international markets and
consumers. The plan still needs to be completed, and the system needs to
be tested to be sure it is effective and workable.
USDA has indicated
that at the outset, the NAIS will be a voluntary system. Incremental
implementation of the plan as development continues will allow for
potential problems within the system to be identified and the plan
modified to address those problems. Ultimately there needs to be full
compliance for the system to work as effectively as it should. Once the
USAIP/NAIS has been finalized, considered workable and accepted by
industry, it is likely that industry and market forces will drive the
process towards full participation. At that time, USDA will work with
industry and state partners to achieve full participation with the USAIP/NAIS.
27. Will I be able to sell my livestock if they are not officially
identified?
Yes, as the plan will begin as a voluntary program. Over time,
some markets may require animals to be identified that are not identified
now. Species where ID is currently required will continue to have to be
identified prior to entering commerce, e.g. sheep and goats under the
national Scrapie eradication program.
As the program is phased in, all animals of covered species will
be encouraged to have premises identification, and eventually individual
identification, prior to sale. For animal owners who lack facilities to
apply identification devices at the premises of birth, there will be
provisions for initiating the process at the point of sale.
28. Can
animals be identified as a group?
Yes, an animal production
system can use Group/Lot identification if the animal owner is able to
demonstrate to the satisfaction of state animal health officials that,
through group identification and production records, traceback to all
premises with direct contacts of a suspect animal can occur within 48
hours, and that the potential for commingling does not exist. Each group
will be identified with a unique and standardized number. Verifiable
records will be required to further document premises ID and dates of
movement.
29.
What are the penalties for not using the program?
At this
point, the USAIP/NAIS is not fully developed and animal owners are not yet
required to comply with any rules. When the plan is finished, the market
forces may drive the process toward participation.
30. What are the liability issues of this
program for animal owners?
Animal owners are, and
have always been responsible for the animals they produce. If practices
are employed that would endanger consumers at any level, the animal owner
responsible for creating that threat could have increased liability.
Effective traceability can help protect animal owners who apply best
management practices. The system can help limit liability and narrow the
scope of eradication efforts in the case of a disease emergency by being
able to document that appropriate and responsible measures were followed.
31. What is the timeline for implementing this
program?
Several steps need to be completed before the USAIP/NAIS could be
fully implemented, however the USAIP recommends that:
These standards will apply to all animals moving within the
represented industries regardless of their intended use as seedstock,
commercial, pets or other personal uses.
32. Who has developed this plan?
The National Animal
Identification Development Team has developed the USAIP. It is a group of
approximately 100 animal and livestock industry professionals representing
over 70 associations, organizations, and government agencies. Development
has been a voluntary effort by all participants working collaboratively to
establish an effective national animal identification plan.
33. Who is on the Team?
Individuals on the team include producers, animal and livestock
association and organizational representatives, and State and Federal
governmental animal production and health professionals. Represented
industries include beef, dairy, swine, sheep, goats, and cervids. Other
species groups are welcome and encouraged to participate.
34. What government entities will have
oversight of this plan?
In keeping with the aim
of the program to help safeguard U.S. animal health through disease
surveillance and monitoring that includes trace back to individual animals
within 48 hours, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
will administer the program. Further, the plan calls for governance as a
joint federal-state responsibility with industry input. To ensure
uniformity of operations across the U.S., APHIS and individual state
animal health entities will develop and administer key regulatory elements
of the plan.
35. What will be the ID
requirements for animals entering the United States from other countries?
Animals entering the country will be subject to the same identification
requirements as animals in the U.S. that move interstate and/or through
commerce. Currently, various species working groups are defining
species-specific identification requirements.
36.
With the phase-out of
existing official animal identification devices by July 2005, what will
happen with Brucellosis vaccination tags? Will they still be used?
The USAIP does not yet
specify how it will affect the animal identification protocols currently
associated with the Brucellosis eradication program. It is likely that
Brucellosis vaccination tags will be phased out gradually as individual
vaccination records are included in the database linked to each USAIN.
37. What will happen with the national Scrapie eradication program's ID
system?
With uniformity and
consistency being key objectives of the USAIP, the U.S. Animal
Identification Number (USAIN) will become the official number for use in
the Scrapie eradication program. It is likely that animals currently
Identified through other official plans/programs will be "grandfathered"
into the program, meaning animal owners will phase in the USAIN on animals
Identified for the first time after a mutually acceptable date.
In addition, it is
envisioned that the current Scrapie premises identification numbers may be
cross-referenced with the new National Premises ID and animal owners will
still be able to use the current premises ID number until it is phased out
over time.
38. Where can interested stakeholders go to obtain more information about
this plan?
The primary source of up-to-the-minute
information is
www.usaip.info - an interactive, user-friendly website that provides
details on the development of the plan as well as specific information
directed at the segments of the livestock industry involved in the
identification effort. Also, fact sheets, brochures, and other forms of
media will be developed to target those needing information on the USAIP/NAIS.
In addition, information
on the National Animal Identification System is available at:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/nais/nais.html.
39. Is there
still time to have input into the plan?
The U.S. Animal
Identification Development Team is seeking comments from all interested
individuals. The comment period runs until January 31, 2004. You can
send comments
-
from the
USAIP web site ---
www.usaip.info
-
by
faxing (719) 538-8847 or
-
by
mailing to USAIP Comments: 660 Southpointe Court, Suite 314, Colorado
Springs, CO 80906.
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