The National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is being implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is, ” … a modern, streamlined information system that helps producers and animal health officials respond quickly and effectively to animal disease events in the United States.”
NAIS applies to cattle, goats, poultry, cervids (deer and elk), swine, equines, sheep and camelids. It comprises three levels of participation: premises registration, animal identification and animal tracking. Nationally, NAIS is completely voluntary, and as of 4-5-09, 510,750 premises were registered.
In Virginia, NAIS is also voluntary, and 9,355 out of an estimated 37,673 premises have been registered.
The USDA specifically states that every animal movement does not need to be recorded, and lists exceptions for equine activities like local trail rides, small local parades and fairs.
While it’s unclear if, and in what form, NAIS will become mandatory, there is one bill before Congress that could make it the law of the land. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) introduced H.R. 875, the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 to the House of Representatives on 2-4-09. Section 210, (a) of the bill instructs the newly created Administrator of Food Safety to, “… establish a national traceability system that enables the Administrator to retrieve the history, use, and location of an article of food through all stages of its production, processing, and distribution.”
Horses aren’t food in the U.S., but currently, NAIS rules don’t make exceptions for horses.
H.R. 875 has 41 co-sponsors, but none from Virginia.
It is likely that NAIS will eventually affect every horse owner. You can become involved and help craft the law, or you can do nothing and live with whatever happens.
If you choose to get involved, study the issue first. Do not be manipulated by chain e-mails or emotional diatribes.
A good place to start researching NAIS is the Equine Species Working Group (ESWG). This independent group comprises equine professionals and organizations whose sole purpose it evaluate NAIS and help make it reasonable and efficient as it pertains to horses. You can read their report NAIS and Horses, or go to their website at www.equinespeciesworkinggroup.com.
Another good resource is the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Go to www.usda.gov/NAIS to get the latest information on NAIS and its implementation.
You can visit the Virginia Animal ID Program at www.vanimalid.info to find out how NAIS is being implemented in Virginia.
There are hundreds of websites devoted to fighting NAIS, but one of the best (and most memorable) is www.NAISsucks.com.
On April 15, 2009, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that in an effort to comply with President Obama’s call for transparency in government, he will initiate a “listening tour” to hear comments about NAIS from communities throughout the country. Details of the tour have not been published yet, but I will post the schedule as soon as it’s released.
Once you decide where you stand on NAIS, contact these groups and let them know how you feel. You should also contact your state and federal legislators. Go to the Virginia Horse News Get Involved page to find out how to quickly and easily contact your representatives.
Get the facts and get involved. Don’t let others write the horse rules.
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