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Don't know about the National Animal ID System? You should.....
Volume 1 ~ Issue 1 October 26 2007
In This Issue - Special Notice - NAIS makes it back into the Farm Bill Horses Ain't Safe From The NAIS Washington Cattle Owners Beware - WSDA may have a new revenue source to fund NAIS..... The State Of The NAIS - a comprehensive implementation report NAIS and Horses - A Timeline of the Inclusion of Horses in NAIS 2002 through 2006 Special Notice NAIS Makes It Back Into The Farm Bill
This week the draft of the Chairman's Mark was released for the Senate version of the 2007 Farm Bill. The section under Livestock includes language that will exempt the NAIS from the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). It is thought that USDA doesn't have the authority to implement the NAIS as a mandatory program for all animals in the USA, but shielding NAIS from FOIA could be a first step to granting USDA blanket authority to implement NAIS for all livestock and poultry, be they in commercial production environments or privately held, even those not normally under USDA regulatory jurisdiction.
From Liberty Ark's Action Alert sent out this week - 10-23-07 The Senate Agriculture Committee has just released the draft language of the Farm Bill, which will be discussed by the Committee tomorrow. The bad news is that the Livestock Title includes NAIS! Senator Harkin has included a provision that defines NAIS and addresses confidentiality of the information collected under it. This section implies approval of the USDA's program, without addressing the many problems with NAIS, including the USDA's misleading and coercive tactics.
People wishing to comment on this should contact their senators, especially if one or more of your senators are on the Agriculture Committee.
For more information and contact information on the Senate Agriculture committee members please visit Liberty Ark Coalition's website at Liberty Ark.org or you may view Liberty Ark's entire alert message at the OSHA website here - http://www.jrigutto.com/osha/alert.htm The full alert message contains the membership list of the Agriculture Committee and their contact information, as well as the Senate Switchboard number and instructions to find your senator and his/her contact information.
Horses Ain't Safe From The NAIS By Karen Nowak Think horses will be excluded from the NAIS? Think they will be way down on the list of priority? Think again! Horse owners need to read the latest USDA document: “Advancing Animal Disease Traceability Overview & Synopsis”, which may be downloaded at: http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/naislibrary/documents/plans_reports/traceability_overview.pdf Pay particular attention to page 3: Strategy 1: Prioritization of Species/Sectors “Prioritization of species/sectors will ensure resources are applied where traceability advances are of the highest importance. ‘Advancing Animal Disease Traceability’ first categorizes species based on existing tracing capabilities and the need for improvement. Priority species include the primary commercial food animal industries - cattle, poultry (chickens and turkeys), swine, sheep, and goats. The competition horse industry is included as a priority due in part to frequent animal movement.Additionally, sectors within each species have been prioritized to direct additional emphasis; for example, the beef and dairy breeding herds are the highest priorities within the cattle sector.” What do they mean by the competition horse industry? We have NO idea because, as of this date, the USDA has not defined what they mean. If they use their previous definition of ‘commingling’ (horses from 10 different premises in one location), it will include most of us! It has appeared to this writer for some time that even the members of the Equine Species Working Group (ESWG) have little understanding of what a ‘local show’ is. Periodically they publish statements that local shows would not be reportable events but then go on to use the above definition of commingling to describe movements which would be reportable. I don’t know about you, but in my area, small local shows more often than not have horses from 10 or more different premises! So do organized (club) trail rides! Continuing on with this document; Strategy 2: Harmonization of Animal Identification Systems “The need for unique animal identification in government and industry programs is accelerating. As a result, producers are seeking improved and flexible identification methods, and compatible processes and data standards that may be used for multiple purposes. The harmonization of animal identification systems will result in more cost-effective options benefiting producers while achieving increased animal disease traceability for the entire industry.” We already know from the ESWG recommendations that the 134.2 kHz microchip will be the required mode of identification of equines. The USDA has already approved the biothermal microchip manufactured by Digital Angel. See: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2007/10/naisdevices.shtml On page 4 we get to the real heart of the matter: Strategy 3: Convergence of Data Standards in Disease Programs and Regulations “ USDA will take steps to adopt and apply NAIS data standards to existing disease programs, including international/interstate commerce regulations. For example, national data standards that identify premises importing and exporting livestock, locations participating in official disease control programs, and origin and destination premises listed on Interstate Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (ICVI) will greatly enhance existing animal disease tracing and emergency response capabilities.”Some states, like NY, are already utilizing data mining of existing disease programs, such as Coggins, to register premises WITHOUT the animal owner’s knowledge or consent. Will we be required to register our premises and microchip our horses to have Coggins tests done in the future? That is a very real possibility and one that horse owners must be aware of. Some of the southern states ( AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, VA & WVA) already require a premises ID to obtain an Equine Interstate Passport Card, which is extends a CVI from 30 days to 6 months. This card is used by those who show to avoid the expense of obtaining CVI’s every 30 days during the competition season. It is also used by those who regularly trail ride in those states for the same reason. Some states are now requiring a premises ID to obtain a CVI.All 50 states are now set-up to accept electronic CVI’s from participating veterinarians and the USDA’s eCVI database is set-up to automatically send ‘sighting reports’ to the NAIS database IF the owner has a premises ID. This follows to the letter the ESWG recommendation that the only equine movements to be tracked would be those requiring a CVI. In addition, the US Animal Health Association (USAHA) Resolution 12, dated November 1, 2001 stated that the USDA utilize an electronic CVI to document intra and interstate movement of livestock and poultry. This resolution was reaffirmed in 2004. Imagine the burden and expense if a CVI is needed for travel within your state! Every show, event, trip to the vet or farrier would require a CVI. How is this recommendation any different from the original recommendation that all movements be reported to the database for NAIS? The answer is that it is NOT! IF the requirement for CVI’s is changed to intrastate movement, we have the animal movement tracking component of NAIS under another name! The ESWG recommendation is yet another example of a “feel good” statement designed to fool horse owners.© Karen Nowak October 23, 2007
Washington Cattle Owners Beware WSDA may have a new revenue source to fund NAIS.....
And, unsuspecting cattle owners selling at the sale yard in Davenport, Washington may have have had cattle confiscated by a Washington State brand inspector working at the sale yard. The cattle apparently are sold and the checks held until the person who's animal was seized can prove ownership - a tough chore indeed given that the animal is gone by the time they find out that there was a problem. One seller claims to have been able to get a check from the sale after raising caine, only to have yet another bovine confiscated a couple weeks later by the same inspector - both animals were owned by the seller, both animals had the seller's own registered heat brand on them, or had other prood of ownership, and the owner had the papers to prove it, however the bovines were still confiscated. After doing some research, this seller found that there have been approximately 150 checks held at this sale yard. The sellers of the animals have 1 year to prove that they did indeed own the bovines, if they can't the moneys are made available to the owner of record of a brand found on the bovine. I'm not sure what happens if the bovine has more than one brand. If no one else claims the moneys from the sale of the animal, they are forfeited to WSDA which plans to use the money to fund the department's livestock ID fund.
During the 2007 legislative session, the brand animal health and inspection laws were 'beefed' up and expanded to cover all animals being transported on the public roads. While technically this is only being applied to livestock, because the legislation states 'animals' not specifically livestock, it could in the future, also be applied to dogs, cats, pet parrots, etc.. The legislation authorizes WSDA to set up check points to inspect animals and those transporting them. It also requires the party transporting the animals to carry proof of ownership while transporting the animal(s). If an inspector or police officer suspect any funny business, or apparently can't read the brand, or looks only on the left side of a bovine with a brand on the right side, they have authority to confiscate the animal. The animal owner is responsible for any expenses accrued due to the keeping of the animal in state custody untill ownership is proven. This may be why the sale yard has been going ahead and selling the animals confiscated on the premises, and then holding the checks. By the time the seller of the bovine finds out what has happened the animal is long gone making proof of ownership difficult if not impossible, especially if the animal has already gone to slaughter or out of state. The person transporting an animal without the proper papers is also subject to a fine of up to $1000.00 or 6 months in jail.
You can read more about the situation at the Davenport sale yard at Celeste Bishop's website - http://www.nonaiswa.org/?p=659 Information on the changes to Washington State's animal health law can be found here - Engrossed Senate Bill 5204 http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/5204.PL.pdf The matter of the Davenport sale yard is currently under investigation by OSHA NAIS WG members and updates on this story will be included in future newsletter editions. Information on the disposition of proceeds from the sale of impounded cattle and horses at a public sale - http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=16.57.300 Consignor Impound Notice - http://www.jrigutto.com/osha/images/BlankImpoundLtr.jpg
© 2007 Joanne Rigutto
The State Of The NAIS a comprehensive implementation report
The Oregon Small Holders Alliance NAIS Working Group (OSHA NAIS WG) is currently gathering and compiling data on NAIS implementation activities and status in the states, on the federal level, as well as what's happening with the tribes and in US territories/possessions.
Originally, USDA intended to implement the NAIS on the federal level, probably as a mandatory system. In late November 2006, due to substantial resistance from segments in the livestock industry, USDA anounced that the NAIS would be voluntary at the federal level, leaving it up to the states as well as producer and intergovernmental organizations to implement the system as they saw fit. The USDA is encouraging implementation through the awarding of cooperative agreements, entering into memoranda of understanding, etc.
What this means, is that implementation activities have become fragmented, although the ultimate goal appears to remain the same - the identification of all livestock animals and the properties (premises) where they are kept, as well as the reporting of all or most animal movements. The NAIS is currently being implemented in a different way in each state, and differently from species to species as well as from production system to production system. It can be incredibly difficult to keep track of it all and we hope that this report will provide interested individuals and organizations with an information hub that they can use to find out what is going on with in their state, their neighboring states, etc. The working group will also be reporting on other programs covering specific species and producers that are not currently part of the NAIS but may be incorporated into it in the coming years.
The Report will be released on a state by state, species by species, program by program basis and will be an ongoing project with individual reports being updated as implementation changes and evolves in the different venues. The report will be made available over the internet in a printer friendly format as well as in web format, and will be free of charge.
The working group will be gathering information from a wide variety of sources including state departments of agriculture, USDA and its branches involved with NAIS implementation, non governmental and intergovernmental organizations and individuals in their respective states.
For more information on the report, to contribute information, or to join the working group please visit the Oregon Small Holders Alliance web site at www.jrigutto.com, or you may email Joanne Rigutto, the head of the working group at loiosh@molalla.net or call her at (503) 535-9716 8am-8pm Pacific Time daily.
© 2007 Joanne Rigutto NAIS and Horses A Timeline of the Inclusion of Horses in NAIS 2002 through 2006 By Karen Nowak
The inclusion of horses in the NAIS has long been debated, when were they included, why, who was responsible for including them and what their status will be in relation to current and future NAIS implementation. In this report, OSHA NAIS WG member Karen Nowak takes us on a guided tour of NAIS development, and how horses have become included in the system.
Have an idea for an article or do you have one that you'd like to see published in this newsletter? Would you like to see a specific aspect of NAIS reported on in this newsletter? Want to know what's going on regarding a specific species or disease? Contact us - email or (503) 535-9716 8am-8pm pacific time daily This is a special one time mailing. To continue to receive this newsletter please click on Subscribe below.
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