USDA, after hearing strong opposition from the industry, has abandoned its earlier decision to allow a single private entity to manage the livestock movement database in connection with the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).

But that wasn't the only major announcement from the agency concerning NAIS:

The agency's NAIS coordinator, Neil Hammerchmidt, told last week's meeting of R-CALF USA that there won't be a mandatory ID program by 2009, as previously announced.

And, he said, USDA attorneys are researching whether they have the legal authority to require producers to report livestock movement to a private entity.

Concerning the database, USDA's top vet, and man in charge of NAIS, Dr. John Clifford, announced they are proposing that USDA would develop a "metadata repository" that would tap into multiple existing databases, such as those being used by breeds, and state and tribal animal health agencies.

This system could allow USDA "to send queries for animal movement records only to those databases that have information on a subject animal or animals," Clifford said. The next step for USDA, he said, is to "begin evaluating the animal movement tracking databases of organizations wanting to participate in the NAIS," to make sure all elements of these private databases comply with NAIS requirements.

Hammerschmidt said USDA has maintained that the Animal Health Protection Act, which was passed as part of the 2002 farm bill, gives USDA authority to develop a national ID system. But, he said, agency lawyers have not determined whether that authority extends to requiring producers to make reports to a private entity.

LMA raised that question in an October public forum on NAIS that was hosted by USDA.

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