By Julie Tomascik
Associate Editor
Preparations for disease outbreaks begin long before a crisis strikes. And the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) relies heavily on the ability to identify and trace livestock.
A proposed rule creates the Animal Disease Traceability Information System (ADTIS) to help store and access data without compromising its safety.
It’s set to take effect Oct. 26.
The current program has a functional system to monitor interstate movement of livestock, but suffers at the intrastate level.
“There are many variables in disease traceability across the country,” said Tracy Tomascik, Texas Farm Bureau associate director of commodity and regulatory activities. “Animal identification, location of animals and contact information of owners is essential to a quick trace back and our animal health officials sometimes meet dead ends.”
The proposal will create a data information system that states, tribes and individuals can use for disease traceability.
“Unlike Texas, some states don’t have the capacity to operate their own system of traceability, and that can be a roadblock in the event of an outbreak,” Tomascik said.
USDA-APHIS will use the system to maintain official identification devices, animal identification numbers, premise identification numbers (PIN) and personal identifiable information of those associated with a premise.
The agency may routinely share this information with federal, state or tribal animal health officials to contain and respond to a foreign animal disease event, bioterrorism or other animal health activities.
And individuals can access the same information and can formally request to have any information pertaining to their operation removed, Tomascik added.
The comment period for the proposed rule ends Oct. 16.