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Members look to fine-tune traceability policy

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s policy on traceability is expected to be heavily debated this week.  NCBA members have established policy on animal traceability, but Ethan Lane vice president of government affairs says it doesn’t take a position on voluntary vs. mandatory.  

“We’ve been advocating voluntary,” he says.  “And in talking about this rulemaking what we would like to see.  We don’t want the producers to bear the costs.  We want to make sure the data is protected.  We want to make sure that as this system develops, that it is moving at the speed of commerce and isn’t a hindrance for producers.”

The USDA is currently going through the rule-making process for traceability. Lane tells Brownfield producer options are limited.   

“Our choice is to oppose that and just say ‘no’,” he says. “Or engage with that and try to make it as close to our member-passed policy as possible.”

And that’s what members will have the opportunity to debate during the Cattle Health and Well Being Committee meeting Thursday morning. 

AUDIO: Ethan Lane, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association