Peterson announces the National Farm Animal Identification and Records (FAIR) Act

(WASHINGTON, DC) - U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn) announced legislation that would implement a national animal ID system to improve the process of tracking, tracing and quarantining animals in the livestock industry.

“As the days pass it becomes apparent that it’s critical to implement a national animal ID system for the future of food safety, security, consumer confidence, and to maintain positive relationships with our trading partners,” Peterson said.

Peterson held a press conference today along with Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark) and James Walsh (R-NY), outlining the details of the FAIR Act.

The bill will assure that the Secretary of Agriculture has enough legislative authority to develop and administer a national animal ID tracking system with a 48-hour trace back from birth to slaughter of livestock.

The FAIR Act will provide many of the crucial elements that will be needed for the livestock industry to get this system started. Included in the bill is an authorization for $175 million to fund the program and to provide financial assistance to producers that will help them comply with new regulation.

“With the ongoing threat to livestock and commodity prices, we need to be able to track, trace and quarantine animals in the face of a highly contagious disease, such foot and mouth, as quickly as possible,” Peterson said.

Today in a statement Tadashi Sato, agriculture attaché at the Japanese Embassy, said “The investigation is not completed; it just failed,” in regard to the USDA’s decision to stop investigating the remaining cattle from the BSE infected group. Sato implied that the investigation failed because the U.S. doesn’t have an animal identification system.

The FAIR Act will require the new system to be able to trace from birth to slaughter livestock within 48 hours, and it will have precedent over interstate and intrastate commerce. This is important because it requires identification for cattle born, raised and slaughtered in one state, something that could be exempt.

Also included is an exemption from the Freedom of Information Act, which was a major concern of the USDA as well as most livestock and farm organizations concerned about privacy issues.

“I have been working on Animal ID for more than a year, and before the discovery of the BSE cow in the U.S., I worked closely with the Canadians during their BSE experience.

"The United States is one of the last industrialized countries to develop a national tracking system,” Peterson said. “It is time for us to step up to the plate for the sake of our consumers and producers who so desperately want this program in place.”