Safeguarding Animal Health 1 USDA APHIS Authorities and Activities Under the National Animal Identification System Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture Andy Morgan Associate Deputy Administrator Veterinary Services May 29, 2008

Safeguarding Animal Health 2 Statutory Authority AHPA has key provisions for VS programs Authorizes VS to act swiftly and decisively to protect U.S. animal health Strengthens VS’ ability to prosecute individuals who smuggle animals or products into U.S. Gives VS authority to regulate aquaculture and provide services for aquaculture and livestock

Safeguarding Animal Health 3 Costs of Animal Disease BSE 80% of beef trade lost in 2004 $5M to investigate $189 M on surveillance END 10 months to eradicate and nearly $160 M 4M birds euthanized 1,600 on task force

Safeguarding Animal Health 4 Components of Disease Control Efforts Surveillance Diagnostics Analysis Traceability Control and eradication

Safeguarding Animal Health 5 NAIS and Animal Health Animal health is the focus of NAIS Three key questions: 1.Where has the infected animal been? 2.What other animals have been exposed? 3.What additional premises & animals are at risk? Retrieve traceback data within 48 hours of detection

Safeguarding Animal Health 6 NAIS Values 1.Standardize information systems and work in harmony with industry-based programs 2. Make producers and industry part of safeguarding efforts

Safeguarding Animal Health 7 Advancing Traceability Success in program diseases has reduced ID of animals

Safeguarding Animal Health 8 Traceability Structure While traceability is complex and takes time and resources, USDA’s focus is increasing number of premises registered and the ID of animals at premises of origin This complements traceability objective for all species and advances traceability within high- priority sectors

Safeguarding Animal Health 9 NAIS Components To Advance Traceability 1.Premises Registration 2. Animal Identification 3. Animal Tracing

Safeguarding Animal Health 10 Advance Traceability – Premises Registration Foundation of NAIS Key to response 50 States, 2 Territories, several Tribes operational, over 464,000 registered

Safeguarding Animal Health 11 Advance Traceability – Animal ID Animal ID is progressing as well We’re preparing to accelerate this component’s level of participation

Safeguarding Animal Health 12 Animal ID – Technology Standards APHIS established technology-neutral position on animal ID methods to ensure market-driven solutions Technology must work at speed of commerce Industry recommends performance requirements and technology standards that provide basis for APHIS to authorize use of animal ID devices and technologies

Safeguarding Animal Health 13 Animal ID – Technology Standards (continued) Species working groups (bison, cattle, equine) recommend RFID technology Technologies/devices and use of “840” animal ID number (AIN) must have technology standards; for RFID technology, ISO and standards are adhered to when authorizing use of AIN devices Technology standardization vital throughout livestock production chain to ensure capture of animal ID data

Safeguarding Animal Health 14 Animal ID – Current ID Devices 11 ID devices approved and compliant with NAIS data standards: 9 ISO-compliant RFID eartags 1 ISO-compliant RFID injectable transponder 1 premises ID eartag for slaughter swine 1.5 M NAIS-compliant RFID eartags for use in animal disease programs and distribution in areas at increased risk for disease outbreaks About 4.2 M AIN devices distributed

Safeguarding Animal Health 15 Advance Traceability – Animal Tracing 17 State and private ATDs will maintain animal movement data ATPS will enable State and Federal officials to request info from private/State ATDs in animal disease event Technical specifications available on Web site Nearly 20 ATDs participating in tracing component Animal health officials will have more data available

Safeguarding Animal Health 16 The Business Plan In 2007, USDA published A Business Plan to Advance Animal Disease Traceability Other key documents include NAIS User Guide Program Standards and Technical References Plan identifies strategies and actions to move toward 48-hour goal Additional strategies will be developed

Safeguarding Animal Health 17 Business Plan Outline Prioritize species/sectors Harmonize ID systems Standardize data elements of disease programs to ensure compatibility Integrate automated technologies Form State partnerships with a local focus Collaborate with industry Advance ID technologies

Safeguarding Animal Health 18 Critical Mass Critical mass is minimum percentage of officially identified animals within each species/sector required to achieve traceability Increasing number of animals officially identified improves quantity and quality of data About 70% of animals in species/sector need to be identified and traceable Critical mass approach advances toward 48-hour traceback goal, but not complete product

Safeguarding Animal Health 19 Performance Goals Benefit-cost analysis will provide more info and input to our performance-based goals Universities collecting data Building upon benefit-cost info from University of California and Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health Complete by August; final report expected October/November Until we have that info, we will recommend to species working groups a 70% critical mass participation level

Safeguarding Animal Health 20 Conclusion Considering comments received on Business Plan, making adjustments as needed; plan to publish a final draft very soon Cooperative efforts among industry, State, and Federal agencies remain essential