VILSACK ANNOUNCES NEW TRACEABILITY FRAMEWORK AT NASDA MEETING
News Date February 16, 2010
During the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Mid-Year meeting, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA will develop a new, flexible framework for animal disease traceability in the United States.
The new framework will provide 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.
Vilsack said, "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 [during listening sessions and through public comment]. 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. 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.
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. (Contact: Bob Ehart)