April 10, 2006

 

Resistance mounts to national animal identification system in US

 

 

Those opposed to a US national animal identification system are beginning to voice out more about a plan they see as intrusive and unnecessarily costly at best and unconstitutional at worst.

 

The animal ID system is designed to identify and allow government veterinary officials to trace animals or poultry in the event of an illness.

 

Most opponents say they can see the system's value in accessing international markets for products like beef. Instead of repealing the system entirely, they want it modified to make participation voluntary or limited to those animals liable to be included in international commerce.

 

Those opposed to a national system say it is designed for and benefits only large, specialised farms, invades the privacy of those who would be forced to participate eventually, is expensive, and reporting requirements are burdensome.

 

Republican Idaho state Representative Shirley McKague said she had introduced a "joint memorial" in the Idaho House of Representatives Mar 1 aimed at sending a message to Congress in Washington asking for implementation to be delayed so potential participants can get more informed on the topic.

 

McKague said her memorial did not pass, but the issue now is "out and drawing discussion".

 

Cheryl Allerton, a partner in Hartman, Hartman, Howe and Allerton of Reading, Pennsylvania said the way the resolution from the USDA is written makes its application excessively narrow.

 

Allerton said the regulations would give the USDA authority to enter a farm and seize livestock not identified with tags or microchips, which she claims is an invasion of privacy. She also wants more time to discuss the regulations and favours tweaking them to apply only to animals meant for international trade.

 

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, in a news conference Thursday outlining the national animal ID plan, said: "Industry-specific working groups have...been studying the issue of animal identification and will be making recommendations to USDA through an established advisory committee on how best to tailor the programme to meet their industry-specific needs."

 

Dore Mobley, public affairs specialist for the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, said those working groups are deciding which identification devices will be required and the types of movement that are reportable. As it stands now, the USDA would like livestock owners to register any premises where livestock is held.

 

The types of livestock currently include cattle, bison, captive deer and elk, poultry, sheep, goats, horses, llamas and alpacas but not rabbits, Mobley said. She was unsure about whether pigeons would be included.

 

Among those opposed to the national animal ID system is Mary Zanoni, executive director of Farm for Life, a non-profit group supporting small-scale and sustainable farmers and those who raise livestock and crops for their own food.

 

In spite of Mobley's comments about rabbits, Judith Ozmer, co-owner of Mountain View Farms in Idaho, who raises and exhibits rabbits as a hobby, said groups like the American Rabbit Breeders Association are trying to get an exemption for groups like theirs.