NAIS Business Plan is a template for moving forward with anima

By Doug Rich

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials presented their Business Plan for the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) at the ID-Info Expo in Kansas City, Mo.

"We need to build on systems that already exist," Dr. Clifford Clark, USDA-Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinarian Services said. "This can be done by providing common data standards across all programs."

Individual animal identification is nothing new. USDA has been doing this for years with programs designed for specific animal disease such as scrapie, tuberculosis, and brucellosis. Dr. Clifford said that these programs are focused on a single disease and when that disease is eradicated the identification program stops. These programs have separate identification numbers and data collection procedures.

"An animal may be identified multiple times yet still not be fully traceable because separate programs use distinct herd and flock identification protocols," Clifford said.

Convergence of data standards in disease programs and regulations is one of the seven strategies contained in the USDA Business Plan for NAIS. Under this strategy USDA will take steps to adopt NAIS data standards for existing disease programs, including international/interstate commerce regulations. This will include a common PIN number for all disease programs.

The remaining six strategies contained in the Business Plan are:

1. Prioritization of Species/Sectors--Primary commercial food animals such as cattle, poultry, swine, sheep, and goats are the priority species. The competition horse industry is a priority as well.

2. Harmonization of Animal Identification Systems--producers want improved identification methods that can be used for multiple purposes.

3. Integration of Automated Data Capture Technologies with Disease Programs--electronic collection of data can increase the volume and quality of data while speeding data entry into a searchable database. USDA has purchased 1.5 million RFID tags for distribution and use with USDA animal health programs.

4. State Partnerships--USDA will continue to support the advancement of each state's disease traceability infrastructure.

5. Industry Collaboration and Sector Opportunities--USDA has entered into cooperative agreement with non-profit industry organization to promote premises registration within various species groups.

6. Advancement of Identification Technologies--USDA will focus its efforts on establishing performance standards for ID devices and evaluating emerging technologies with emphasis on system that can operate at the speed of commerce

"If we cannot locate these animals, then what assurances can we give to neighboring states," Dr. Clifford said. "We need to be able to reliably trace animals."

According to Dr. David Morris, USDA/APHIS/Veterinary Services, they have some traceback capabilities on approximately 95 percent of the poultry in this country, nearly 100 percent of the swine, close to 80 percent of the sheep and goats, but only 28 percent of the cattle.

"This sector has the most to gain from NAIS and it will take the most effort," Dr. Morris said.

Although 100 percent participation was the original goal, USDA now considers 70 percent a more realistic goal. This would give them the critical mass needed to make traceback a reality. Traceback capabilities to a majority of mainstream agriculture is needed to protect the nation's beef herd and to maintain the food supply.

The Business Plan will join two other reports that have already been published, the NAIS User Guide and the Program Standards and Technical References. The User Guide gives all sectors of the animal agriculture industry information on how and why they need to participate in NAIS. The Program Standard and Technical References is a supplement to the User Guide. It establishes data standards for NAIS.

Neil Hammerschmidt, USDA/APHIS/Veterinary Services, said the Business Plan will be shared with state health officials, and species groups in the near future.

Doug Rich can be reached by phone at 785-749-5304 or by e-mail at richhpj@aol.com.

9/17/07

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