Questions and Answers on the National Animal Identification System Animal Movement Database

What is the animal movement database? 

The database contains movement information on the animals within producers’ herds and will allow for trace of those animals by animal health officials. 

Will producers’ confidential information be protected in the database? 

Absolutely.  The database will be managed by a not-for-profit, industry-led, multi-species consortium of animal industry representatives. Database information will remain the property of the producer.  USDA is supportive of the database being controlled by livestock producers. 

How will the database integrate into the overall National Animal Identification System? 

The database is a very narrow part of the entire NAIS.  Other pieces that must be put into place include continued premises registration and the data collection infrastructure.

Is NCBA pushing an “NCBA Animal ID System” to make money? 

No.  There is no “NCBA Animal ID System.”  NCBA is working with other groups to build the consortium, which will manage the database.  NCBA feels very strongly that the program must remain a not-for-profit venture administered by people in the affected animal industries.

What is the status of the database? 

An animal industry consortium can have a database in place in a very short period of time.

What are the next steps? 

NCBA has asked USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for clear direction on its database needs.  Livestock industries must come together now and to agree to an aggressive timeline for completing the database.