Animal ID in Farm Bill

March 31, 2006 -- The chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee says Congress will take up the issue of a livestock identification system during consideration of the 2007 Farm Bill. The move could potentially delay the program for tracking disease outbreaks.

?We want to make sure we do it right, that?s the important thing,? Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) said after speaking at the National Agriculture Day luncheon. ?Later is better than doing it early and not doing it right.?

Chambliss said the ID system is an alternative to requiring meat to be labeled with its country of origin. The 2002 Farm Bill required the labeling, but Congress has delayed the provision's implementation.

The ID system is supposed to allow investigators to find any livestock or premises that have come into contact with an animal disease within 48 hours.