The following quotations concerning the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) are from Mark A. Kastel, Senior Farm Policy Analyst at The Cornucopia Institute, a Wisconsin-based farm policy research group.
The USDA's announcement to fold their tent on the current NAIS proposals is an all too rare victory of the nation's family farmers over the political power of corporate agribusiness.
Secretary Vilsack, in this case, definitely listened to the will of the people. The decision by the USDA to regroup, and withdraw current rulemaking, was made after a series of spirited national meetings with vocal farmers.
We are impressed with Secretary Vilsack. This decision, on his part, illustrates his balance in addressing everything at the USDA from supporters of organics to controversies like NAIS and genetic engineering. He's proven himself a savvy and pragmatic political leader.
Family farmers around the country were concerned that they would be placed at a competitive disadvantage if they were forced to implement the NAIS technology being pushed by corporate agribusiness.
The following quotes are from Judith McGeary, Executive Director of the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance .
For more than four years, individuals and groups across America , from both ends of the political spectrum and many walks of life, have urged USDA to stop implementing the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).
We applaud Secretary Vilsack for listening to our concerns and deciding to abandon the NAIS.
As USDA moves forward with developing a new framework for traceability, we urge the Secretary to involve as broad a range of groups and individuals as possible. We need to a system that works not just for agribusiness and industry giants, but for the millions of animal owners who are responsible for animal health on a daily basis.
The Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance (FARFA) advocates for farmers, ranchers, and homesteaders through public education and lobbying to assure their independence in the production and marketing of their food, and to prevent the imposition of unnecessary regulatory burdens that are not in the public interest. FARFA also advocates for consumers’ access to information and resources to obtain healthy foods of their choice.
FARFA promotes connections between rural and urban communities to support diversified, local agricultural systems.
Release No. 57.10
Contact:
USDA Office of Communications (202) 720-4623
USDA ANNOUNCES NEW FRAMEWORK FOR ANIMAL DISEASE TRACEABILITY
WASHINGTON , Feb. 5, 2010—Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announced today that USDA will develop a new, flexible framework for animal disease traceability in the United States , and undertake several other actions to further strengthen its disease prevention and response capabilities.
“After concluding our listening tour on the National Animal Identification System in 15 cities across the country, receiving thousands of comments from the public and input from States, Tribal Nations, industry groups, and representatives for small and organic farmers, it is apparent that a new strategy for animal disease traceability is needed,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "I’ve decided to revise the prior policy and offer a new approach to animal disease traceability with changes that respond directly to the feedback we heard."
The framework, announced today at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Mid-Year meeting, provides the basic tenets of an improved animal disease traceability capability in the United States . USDA’s efforts will:
Only apply to animals moved in interstate commerce;
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.
“One of my main goals for this new approach is to build a collaborative process for shaping and implementing our framework for animal disease traceability,” said Vilsack. “We are committed to working in partnership with States, Tribal Nations and industry in the coming months to address many of the details of this framework, and giving ample opportunity for farmers and ranchers and the public to provide us with continued input through this process.”
One of USDA’s first steps will be to convene a forum with animal health leaders for the States and Tribal Nations to initiate a dialogue about the possible ways of achieving the flexible, coordinated approach to animal disease traceability we envision. Additionally, USDA will be revamping the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Animal Health to address specific issues, such as confidentiality and liability.
Although USDA has a robust system in place to protect U.S. agriculture, with today’s announcement, the Department will also be taking additional actions to further strengthen protections against the entry and spread of disease. These steps will include actions to lessen the risk from disease introduction, initiating and updating analyses on how animal diseases travel into the country, improving response capabilities, and focusing on greater collaboration and analyses with States and industry on potential disease risk overall.
More information on USDA’s new direction on animal traceability and the steps to improve disease prevention and control is available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability.
Mark A. Kastel
The Cornucopia Institute
Source: newsroom - meattradenewsdaily.co.uk
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