Agricultural News
USDA Secretary Vilsack Says Animal Disease Traceback Program Final Rule to be Unveiled Soon
Mon, 16 May 2011 5:54:48 CDT
Over a year ago, the USDA announced a new, flexible framework for animal disease traceability in the United States. The final plan has yet to be announced, but Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack told Congress this past week that the final details will be rolled out "soon."
According to the USDA website, the framework will provide the basic tenets of an improved animal disease traceability capability in the United States. USDA says that these efforts will:
Only apply to animals moved interstate;
Be administered by the States and Tribal Nations to provide more flexibility;
Encourage the use of lower-cost technology; and
Be implemented transparently through federal regulations and the full rulemaking process.
The top Democrat on the House Ag Committee, Collin Peterson of Minnesota, has long been a proponent of a mandatory animal ID system in this country- contending that anything less will be a detriment in assuring our foreign customers that we can respond quickly to a disease outbreak in our livestock herds.
Last week, Peterson questioned Vilsack about the timing and the effectiveness of the program in helping us assure international buyers that we can get a handle on a disease outbreak if one should occurr inside our borders. You can hear their conversation on today's beef Buzz.
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