Private Animal ID Gets House Support

Key members of the House Ag Committee sent a letter to USDA Secretary Mike Johanns July 20 requesting implementation of a private sector-based national animal identification system.  The letter, signed by Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Representatives Robin Hayes (R-N.C.), Tom Osborne (R-Neb.), Mike Pence (R-Ind.), Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas), Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) and K. Michael Conaway (R-Texas) says, “We think private animal ID systems will speed the process of implementing a national ID program, enhance U.S. markets and add value to U.S. livestock.”

NCBA has led the effort to implement a private-sector, multi-species ID program for livestock because it wants to protect producer rights and confidentiality.  Animal health authorities will be able to access the private-sector database for appropriate animal health concerns, but the data will remain the property of the individual and stored in a multi-species consortium to maintain confidentiality. 

NCBA’s Animal ID Commission on July 6 selected a technology partner to develop the data storage infrastructure for the industry-led ID program.  Pending a final agreement, NCBA says the team, led by BearingPoint, Inc., is expected to beta test the system by October 2005 and have it fully operational by Jan. 1.  This is far quicker than plans by USDA to implement a government-run system, which calls for mandatory implementation by 2009.

 The House members’ letter says, “There has been a disappointing lack of consideration of a private sector-based approach to the animal identification challenge.  This is unfortunate because experience suggests that private-based systems have allowed other nations to implement ID systems swiftly and inexpensively while still maximizing the benefit to producers and the utility for government regulators.”

 Pointing to examples of existing private-sector ID programs in Canada, Australia and Switzerland, the House members point out, “Since other nations have been able to implement private sector-based systems — in partnership with government — which display qualities of thrift, flexibility and expediency, we are disappointed that such a solution is not being pursued in the United States.”

For more information on NCBA’s efforts to implement a national animal ID system go to: http://www.beefusa.org/AnimalID.aspx.