The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proposed a series of amendments to its Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) regulations, reports Drovers CattleNetwork.
The amendments would modify how the agency approves livestock marketing facilities receiving animals in interstate commerce and provide clarifications on how livestock can be moved to these facilities—either without official identification or before an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection (ICVI) is issued.
Recommendations of a working group of federal and state animal-health officials triggered the proposal and an additional request of specifying the location on cattle and bison where USDA-approved backtags must be applied.
APHIS seeks public comments, specifically on the topic of backtag placement. Submit comments on or before Mar. 3 through the Federal eRulemaking Portal or by mail to Docket No. APHIS-2014-0018, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.