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NPPC urges restoration of animal ID funding

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is urging Congress to restore funding for a national animal ID system.

The Senate Appropriations Committee last week approved a fiscal 2011 ag funding bill that stripped out money for the USDA’s voluntary National Animal Identification System (NAIS). And the House Appropriations agriculture subcommittee has also “zeroed out” funding for the ID system. President Obama had requested $14.2 million for the program.

NPPC says the pork industry’s competitiveness and its exports are threatened by the failure of the U.S. to implement an animal ID plan. The group supports a mandatory national ID system and is asking lawmakers put back into the ag appropriations bill funding for NAIS.