Testing, further educating ranchers and others and, eventually, initiating enforcement actions for non-compliance of the federal Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) system are new steps announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
In a letter to stakeholders, APHIS Administrator Kevin Shea said the agency plans to evaluate identification of livestock moved interstate and begin identifying individuals who are not meeting program requirements this month. Once those are identified, APHIS’ local veterinary services area district director will provide them with details on how to obtain the official identification devices or movement documentation through a written letter.
The rule, Traceability for Livestock Moving Interstate, was published in January 2013 and took effect March 11, 2013, according to Drovers CattleNetwork.