December 21, 2007
December 21, 2007 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced the release of two National Animal Identification System (NAIS) documents this week. The draft Business Plan to Advance Animal Disease Traceability has been made available for review and comment, and a revised version of the NAIS User Guide was released.
The draft plan provides a comprehensive look at the country's current traceability status, including a breakdown by species. It details seven strategies that will provide the greatest amount of traceability progress in a short amount of time. These strategies involve state and federally regulated and voluntary animal health programs, industry-administered animal management and marketing programs, as well as various animal identification techniques. It also will allow these varied components to work in harmony. Drawing from already existing systems and data reduces the cost, amount of time and effort needed to implement a national animal identification system.
USDA will periodically review and update the plan to leverage new opportunities, address unforeseen challenges and maintain forward movement towards the ultimate goal of 48-hour traceback.
The draft plan was published in the Dec. 19 Federal Register and is available on the NAIS Web site at
www.usda.gov/nais. Comments on the plan or other aspects of the system can be provided by e-mailing animalidcomments@aphis.usda.gov or by writing to the NAIS program staff, USDA, APHIS, VS, 4700 River Road, Unit 200, Riverdale, MD 20737.
USDA also released the official version of the NAIS User Guide, which replaces the November 2006 draft version. During the past year, USDA has reviewed and incorporated public comments into the official version, making the document easier for readers to understand and use. The user guide, upon which the business plan builds, provides producers with the information they need to know about how the NAIS works, how they can put the system to use and why participation would benefit them and their animals. The user guide contains the most up-to-date information on the NAIS, as well as how to participate in all three aspects of the program, including premises registration, animal identification and animal tracing.
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