New Animal Disease Traceability Framework Announced

On February 5, 2010, USDA announced a new, flexible framework for animal disease traceability in the United States.  After concluding the 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, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stated it was apparent a new strategy for animal disease traceability was needed.

The new framework 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.

Factsheet about the Animal Disease Traceability Framework is available at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability/