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Animal Disease Traceability System - ADT:
USDA Puts New Face on Animal Disease Traceability:
On Friday, (Feb. 5, 2010), the USDA Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, announced that the current NAIS program is being phased out and will be replaced by a flexible Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) system. The new ATD system framework will provide for the basic structure of an improved animal disease traceability system in the United States.
In the announcement, Secretary Vilsack noted that the ATD system, (at the Federal USDA level), will focus primarily on livestock involved in interstate shipments. Intrastate livestock movements will be administered at the State level, which will provide for a more flexible tracing system.
Vilsack said the new system will be implemented "transparently" through federal regulations and the "full rulemaking process". He went on to say that the developmental process for the ATD system will include: “A new round of consultations with livestock industry groups, animal health leaders for the States and Tribal Nations that will initiate a dialogue about the possible ways of achieving the flexible, coordinated approach to animal disease traceability we envision.
Additionally, USDA will be revamping the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Animal Health to address specific issues, such as confidentiality and liability.”
Secretary Vilsack added, "One of my main goals for this new approach is to build a collaborative process for shaping and implementing our framework for animal disease traceability. We are committed to working in partnership with States, Tribal Nations and industry in the coming months to address many of the details of this framework, and giving ample opportunity for farmers and ranchers and the public to provide us with continued input through this process."
In a separate release, House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., said that she was encouraged that USDA is formulating a detailed plan, but "I am concerned that we are moving from a single system capable of integrating and analyzing information across state lines to a collection of over 50 plus smaller systems that rely on different technology which will be less effective for national animal disease surveillance and response efforts. As the federal agency receiving funds, designing and implementing the program, USDA needs to maintain accountability for a successful animal disease traceability system."
For more information on the Animal Disease Traceability System contact Bryan Rickard (brickard@kahd.ks.gov) or contact the Kansas Animal Health Dept. at (785) 296.2326.
A copy of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack's entire press release can be viewed at the following website link:
A Q & A document pertaining to the Animal Disease Tracing system is available by clicking the following link:
- Animal Disease Traceability FAQ (57 KB PDF)
