Daily News Update, Dec. 21, 2007
USDA takes
another step towards advancing animal disease traceability
The U.S. Department of Agriculture
released its draft of a Business Plan for Advancing Animal Disease
Traceability on Dec. 19. The business plan supports the 48-hour
traceback long-term goal of the National Animal Identification System as
well as provides benchmarks to guide the program as it moves towards
optimum traceability.
Animal diseases like tuberculosis,
brucellosis or low pathogenic avian influenza are common threats to U.S.
livestock and a reality for many producers. While disease events in this
country often have been limited in scope, the threat of a catastrophic
animal disease outbreak is real.
Because these events are unpredictable,
it is in the best interest of producers, the industry and the government
to be prepared.
"By creating a nationally integrated,
modern animal disease response system, like the National Animal
Identification System, animal health officials quickly can obtain all of
the information they need to locate as well as trace the movement of
diseased and exposed animals, which will significantly minimize the
spread of the disease," said Bruce Knight, under secretary for USDA's
marketing and regulatory programs mission area.
"The draft business plan is part of our
effort to remain accountable and transparent in the implementation of
this system."
In order to improve traceability, USDA
applied a business plan model in an effort to:
- Identify areas
of weakness and opportunity,
- Establish
benchmarks against which to measure success and
- Communicate a
vision for the future of traceability.
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.
USDA also released the official version of
the National Animal Identification System 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 National Animal Identification System 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 National Animal Identification System, as
well as how to participate in all three aspects of the program,
including premises registration, animal identification and animal
tracing.
The draft plan was published in the Dec.
19 Federal Register and is available on the National Animal
Identification System Web site at
www.usda.gov/nais.
Comments on the plan or other aspects of
the system can be provided by sending an email to
animalidcomments@aphis.usda.gov or by writing to the National Animal
Identification System program staff, USDA, APHIS, VS, 4700 River Road,
Unit 200, Riverdale, MD 20737.
The National Animal Identification System
is a modern, streamlined information system that helps producers and
animal health officials respond quickly and effectively to events
affecting animal health in the United States.
NAIS utilizes premises registration;
animal identification and animal tracing components to both locate
potentially diseased animals and eliminate animals from disease
suspicion. It is a state-federal-industry partnership, which is
voluntary at the federal level.
Fact sheet:
The Facts About Traceability.
|
