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Animal Identification and Meat Traceability
Summary
Many animal producers support establishment of a nationwide identification
(ID) system capable of quickly tracking animals from birth to slaughter. While they
believe such a system is needed to better deal with animal diseases or meet foreign
market specifications, some consumer groups and others believe it also would be
useful for food safety or retail informational purposes - and that the program should
be able to trace meat products through processing and consumption.
However, despite years of effort on at least an animal ID program for disease
purposes, many contentious issues remain unresolved. For example, should it be
mandatory or voluntary? What types of information should be collected, on what
animal species, and who should hold it, government or private entities? How much
will it cost, and who should pay?
Following the first U.S. report of a cow with BSE (bovine spongiform
encephalopathy or "mad cow disease") in late December 2003, the Secretary of
Agriculture promised to take the lead in implementing an animal ID program capable
of identifying all animals of interest within 48 hours of a disease discovery (BSE or
other). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has committed, through
FY2006, $85 million to this effort, and all states now have systems for registering
animal premises.
Some industry groups and lawmakers have criticized USDA for moving too
slowly and/or not providing a clearer path toward a universal ID program. Others
believe that USDA's progress to date simply reflects the deep divisions among
producers and other interests over the many unresolved questions. A few livestock
producers oppose any effort to establish broader programs, fearing they will be costly
and intrusive.
The 109th Congress was asked to address these issues. A provision in the
House-passed USDA appropriation for FY2007 (H.R. 5384) would condition use of
the next $33 million in spending for animal ID on publication in the Federal Register
of a "complete and detailed plan" for the program, "including, but not limited to,
proposed legislative changes, cost estimates, and means of program evaluation."
However, a House floor amendment to prohibit all ID program funding was defeated
by a wide margin. The Senate committee-reported version of H.R. 5384 requests a
Government Accountability Office review of USDA's efforts. A final FY2007
appropriation had not been passed by late November, and USDA programs were
operating under a series of continuing resolutions.
Other bills included H.R. 1254, the National Farm Animal Identification and
Records Act, H.R. 1256, to limit animal ID information disclosure, and H.R. 3170,
creating a private Livestock Identification Board to oversee the program. Some
anticipate that continuing differences over animal ID make it an issue to be resolved
with the next omnibus farm bill, due for consideration in 2007. This CRS report will
be updated if events warrant.
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Becker, Geoffrey S. Animal Identification and Meat Traceability, report, November 24, 2006; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc808976/m1/2/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.