Listening Tour on Animal Identification to be Held
USDA wants to hear ideas, suggestions and concerns of stakeholders.
Compiled by staff
Published: Apr 16, 2009
Wednesday in Washington, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack held a roundtable discussion with a variety of stakeholders on the National Animal Identification System. Representatives from 28 groups attended the meeting.
"Much work has been done over the past five years to engage producers in developing an animal identification system that they could support," said Vilsack. "However, many of the issues and concerns that were initially raised by producers, such as the cost, impact on small farmers, privacy and confidentiality and liability, continue to cause debate. In the spirit of President Obama's call for transparency in government, now is the time to have frank and open conversations about NAIS. We need to work collaboratively to resolve concerns and move forward with animal traceability."
USDA heard stakeholders concerns from both supporters and opponents of mandatory NAIS and also asked for potential or feasible solutions to those concerns. Among the groups against a mandatory system in attendance was R-Calf USA, represented by president and CEO Bill Bullard.
"We were pleased to see the number of organizations at the roundtable that find a mandatory NAIS, under USDA's proposal, would be unworkable," Bullard said. "The Secretary held a balanced meeting with people on both sides of the issue and appeared genuinely interested in learning what USDA can and should do to improve our U.S. livestock disease control programs."
Vilsack briefed reporters following the meeting and talked about the task ahead that was begun by today's roundtable. "I have begun this process in an effort to better understand the various positions, concerns and problems as perceived by various organizations," Vilsack said. "We will continue this process through a series of listening tour events throughout the country, so that we don't end up with a system that people resist, people resent and that people figure out ways to get around."
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