Johanns: NAIS vital to protecting U.S. marketing interests

By JEFF DEYOUG, For Lee Agri-Media
Wednesday, August 30, 2006 3:56 PM CDT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. While he recognizes there is opposition to a national animal identification system (NAIS), USDA Secretary Mike Johanns said the system is vital to protecting animal health and U.S. marketing interests.

“Don't let the nay-sayers dampen your enthusiasm,” Johanns said during a recent identification and information expo sponsored by the National Institute for Animal Agriculture.

“By and large, your industry is saying we need to do this, and I'm very pleased with the progress.”

The NAIS continues to be in the formative stage, Johanns said. Every state is participating in the premises identification program.

He said the USDA has approved four identification tags, and five private and state organizations have been approved to collect data.

The cost of the system continues to concern the livestock industry, Johanns noted and said a cost-estimate study is being conducted for the NAIS.

Another concern is confidentiality. He said that concern is one of the major reasons the USDA has opted for a privatized system, rather than a government system.

“The notion that this is some massive system run entirely by the federal government <\m> I don't believe in that I believe the best system should be driven by you at the ground level.

“We need to be able to meet the needs of the producers in order to have their support.”

Because information will be held privately, Johanns added it will not be susceptible to requests for data through the Freedom of Information Act.

“I understand the desire of producers to protect their information, and they are right on the mark,” he said. “I should not be in the business of possessing your information.

“Only in the event of a disease outbreak will USDA go to the holder of that information, and we will only get the information that is relevant to that investigation.”

Johanns said he firmly believes in the initial premise behind the NAIS safeguarding the nation's livestock industry against a massive disease outbreak.

“This system will allow health officials to minimize the impact of an outbreak,” he said. “I pray that it never happens. But, if it does, over time you will applaud the efforts we are making today.”

The USDA has a goal of implementing the system by January 2009. Johanns referred to a survey conducted at the expo saying 72 percent of attendees did not believe the NAIS would be in place by then.

Johanns acknowledged it would be difficult to achieve that goal.

“You have to set a benchmark, and these are our goals,” he said. “Some states are doing yeoman's work right now, and others are not.

“That's what happens when you have a voluntary system, and I continue to believe a voluntary system is the best system. I continue to believe we will find a way to work through these issues.”

Johanns said the ability to trace animals will be affected by voluntary participation in the NAIS, but maintained a mandatory system is the “worst approach.”

“Can you have effective traceability if you don't have everyone in the system? Obviously, you are going to leave a gap,” he said.

“That's why we need to keep moving forward and get as many animals in the system.”

Johanns said about $83 million has been funneled to various states as a boost to premises identification programs.

As the NAIS continues to evolve, he said the USDA will continue to listen to producers and others affiliated with the livestock industry to create a system that not only helps prevent disease outbreaks but helps assure trading partners U.S. products are safe.

“There is going to be a day when people are calling for this system, and there could be a day where there could be a premium for producers who are participating,” Johanns said.

Finalizing the NAIS, he added, will not be easy.

“There are lots of questions and concerns, and it seems like every day, someone has a new idea,” Johanns said. “It's not without challenges but it's important that we continue to move forward with it.”

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