CONTACT:     Joe Schuele, (303) 850-3360, jschuele@beef.org

                        Karen Batra, (202) 347-0228, kbatra@beef.org      

NOTE: Earlier today, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced USDA’s guiding principles for development of a public/private partnership that enables the private sector to maintain animal movement data as part of the National Animal Identification System. More information on USDA’s announcement is posted at: http://www.usda.gov.

NCBA statement on USDA’s announcement regarding

Animal Identification government/private partnership

Mike John
Missouri cattle producer, NCBA president-elect and
chairman of NCBA’s Animal Identification Commission

August 30, 2005

“Producer-members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) are pleased that Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns has announced the department's support of a government/private partnership toward implementation of a National Animal Identification System (NAIS). The Secretary says this approach will enable the private sector to maintain animal movement data and better protect the confidentiality of producer information.

“For some time now, NCBA has led the effort to put in place a private-sector, multi-species ID program for livestock.  NCBA believes protection of producers’ rights and confidentiality is a top priority, and the industry is best equipped to do this.  Under this private-sector system, animal health authorities will be able to receive information for appropriate animal health concerns, but the data will remain the property of the individual and managed by a non-profit multi-species consortium to maintain confidentiality.

“NCBA is certainly on the same page with USDA in terms of the guiding principles for the animal ID program. Secretary Johanns’ call for 48-hour traceback capability and the flexibility to accommodate developing technologies are very consistent with the goals NCBA's producer-led Animal ID Commission has established. And we especially appreciate his commitment to minimizing the size and role of the government in implementing the identification system.

“We applaud the ongoing commitment of the USDA and APHIS to the animal health system in this country and the public/private partnership that enables American producers to supply the most abundant and safest food supply in the world. We look forward to working with USDA officials and leaders across all livestock sectors as part of a comprehensive, multi-species consortium. “

Find more information on NCBA’s efforts to implement a national animal identification system at: http://www.beefusa.org/AnimalID.aspx.

###