USDA Issues Final Rule for Animal Disease Traceability
Thursday, December 20, 2012(American Meat Institute)
USDA has announced a final rule establishing general regulations for improving the traceability of U.S. livestock moving interstate. The rule calls for livestock moved interstate, unless specifically exempted, to be officially identified and accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection or other documentation, such as owner-shipper statements or brand certificates.
The final rule has several differences from
the proposed rule issued in August 2011. These
include:
- Accepting the use of brands, tattoos and
brand registration as official identification
when accepted by the shipping and receiving
States or Tribes
- Permanently maintaining the use of backtags
as an alternative to official eartags for
cattle and bison moved directly to
slaughter
- Accepting movement documentation other than
an Interstate Certificate of Veterinary
Inspection for all ages and classes of cattle
when accepted by the shipping and receiving
States or Tribes
- Clarifying that all livestock moved
interstate to a custom slaughter facility are
exempt from the regulations
- Exempting chicks moved interstate from a hatchery from the official identification requirements
Beef cattle under 18 months of age, unless they are moved interstate for shows, exhibitions, rodeos, or recreational events, are exempt from the official identification requirement in this rule. These specific traceability requirements for that group will be addressed in a separate rule.
Specific details about the regulation and
how it will affect producers is available at http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTIxMjIwLjEzNjY5OTAxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDEyMTIyMC4xMzY2OTkwMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MzIxMTc5JmVtYWlsaWQ9c2JhY2t1c0BtZWF0YW1pLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9c2JhY2t1c0BtZWF0YW1pLmNvbSZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&101&&&http://www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability.
The full notice will be published in the December 28 Federal Register.
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