Mechanics of National ID Still Uncertain

Determining how to implement a national animal identification system was to be the focus of the Animal Identification Subcommittee Meeting held Thursday, Jan. 30, 2003 at the Cattle Industry Convention. However, participants in the session continued to contemplate – and lament – if such a system is even possible.

Despite the banter and controversy, those in the room were reminded that in September 2004 the mandatory country-of-origin labeling legislation will self-activate and become law. "This is a retail labeling law, and it requires that a system exist so we can trace beef to its source of origin," Barry Carpenter with USDA AMS told the audience. "The law does not give our agency the authority to put mandatory identification in place. That responsibility lies with the beef industry," he added.

At present, voluntary country-of-origin labeling (COOL) is in place, but to date no retailers offer consumers this service. The COOL legislation was previously proposed by producers in Montana and passed by Congress in October 2001. NCBA has opposed such legislation.

Trying to get the group back to the subject at hand, Nebraska producer Allen Bright, Chairman of this subcommittee reminded the group, "We’ve got a law of the land, and now must figure out how to deal with it."

One producer proposed that a "working group" of industry and producers be formed to report solutions at next year’s convention; another reminded the audience that this is urgent and next year is too late. Several made the point that calves born this spring will need to be identified at the point of origin so that they can comply with the COOL law at the retail sector in 2004 – but the industry has no means in place for such a system.

Those in attendance also herd updates from USMEF regarding other country’s traceback systems; the importance of animal ID for animal health monitoring; and details about Canada’s traceback system which follows animals from farm to slaughter, but not to retail.

Receiving little discussion was a National Identification Work Plan that was produced in November 2002 by the National Food Animal Identification Task Force. This proposal includes three phases that would eventually lead to electronic tracking, for more information visit www.animalagriculture.org/id.

The efforts of this subcommittee will be taken to full committee before being presented to membership during the business meeting on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003.

—- By Kindra Gordon