The National Pork Producers Council has a lot of questions about the new USDA proposal for a scaled-back version of the National Animal ID Program. Last week, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a plan which would only require animal identification for animals which cross state lines. The plan would also be administered by states and tribal nations instead of the federal government.
The National Pork Producers Council has been on record in support of a national mandatory animal ID system and Dave Warner with NPPC says they still believe that is the way to go. Warner says while they are supportive of the USDA effort, they have concerns with tracing animals which are born, raised and slaughtered within one state. “What would happen if such an animal were to contract such a disease, what happens to all of the other animals within that state?” He wonders if all of those animals would then be quarantined.
Along with that, NPPC is very concerned about the possible loss of export markets if there is a case of one of these diseases with no way to trace it directly to a farm. If we can assure our export partners within a short period of time that meat from other farms, other areas would be safe we should be ok, “Without that ability, we will see some of our trading partners closing their markets to our meat exports.”
Meanwhile, Warner says NPPC will continue with their swine ID program which includes premises registration, “Through 2009 we have 85 percent of all swine premises in this country registered.”
AUDIO: Dave Warner comments on the proposed changes
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