USDA Issues Final Rule for Animal Disease Traceability
USDA Office of Communications sent this bulletin at 12/20/2012 02:15 PM EST
USDA Office of Communications sent this bulletin at 12/20/2012 02:15 PM EST
Release No. 0366.12
Contact:
Office of Communications (202) 720-4623
USDA Issues Final Rule for Animal Disease Traceability
WASHINGTON, December 20, 2012—The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
today announced a final rule establishing general regulations for improving the
traceability of U.S. livestock moving interstate.
"With the final rule announced today, the United States now has a flexible,
effective animal disease traceability system for livestock moving interstate,
without undue burdens for ranchers and U.S. livestock businesses," said
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "The final rule meets the diverse needs of
the countryside where states and tribes can develop systems for tracking animals
that work best for them and their producers, while addressing any gaps in our
overall disease response efforts. Over the past several years, USDA has listened
carefully to America's farmers and ranchers, working collaboratively to
establish a system of tools and safeguards that will help us target when and
where animal diseases occur, and help us respond quickly."
Under the final rule, unless specifically exempted, livestock moved
interstate would have to be officially identified and accompanied by an
interstate certificate of veterinary inspection or other documentation, such as
owner-shipper statements or brand certificates.
After considering the public comments received, the final rule has several
differences from the proposed rule issued in August 2011.
These include:
•Accepting the use of brands, tattoos and brand registration as official
identification when accepted by the shipping and receiving States or Tribes
•Permanently maintaining the use of backtags as an alternative to official
eartags for cattle and bison moved directly to slaughter
•Accepting movement documentation other than an Interstate Certificate of
Veterinary Inspection (ICVI) for all ages and classes of cattle when accepted by
the shipping and receiving States or Tribes
•Clarifying that all livestock moved interstate to a custom slaughter
facility are exempt from the regulations
•Exempting chicks moved interstate from a hatchery from the official
identification requirements
Beef cattle under 18 months of age, unless they are moved interstate for
shows, exhibitions, rodeos, or recreational events, are exempt from the official
identification requirement in this rule. These specific traceability
requirements for this group will be addressed in separate rulemaking, allowing
APHIS to work closely with industry to ensure the effective implementation of
the identification requirements.
For more specific details about the regulation and how it will affect
producers, visit www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability.
Animal disease traceability, or knowing where diseased and at-risk animals
are, where they've been, and when, is very important to ensure a rapid response
when animal disease events take place. An efficient and accurate animal disease
traceability system helps reduce the number of animals involved in an
investigation, reduces the time needed to respond, and decreases the cost to
producers and the government.
This notice is expected to be published in the December 28 Federal
Register. # Note to Reporters: USDA news releases, program announcements and
media advisories are available on the Internet and through Really Simple
Syndication (RSS) feeds. Go to the APHIS news release page at
www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom and click on the RSS feed link. USDA is an equal
opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of
discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202)
720-6382 (TDD).
#
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