National Animal Identification System (NAIS)

At press time, Virginia is well on its way to the goals set by the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). The deadlines imposed by the USDA are still adjusting somewhat, but the goal to have every state capable of assigning a premise identification number to every farm is unchanged. Virginia currently has more than 1,000 premises registered and the capability to register 40 per day. The time line is still calling for complete implementation of the system involving interstate, intrastate, and slaughter transfer of all animals by January 2009.

The greatest debate now concerns who will control and administrate the NAIS. There are many private corporations/industry groups that would like control of the database but, at present, the USDA and others are still somewhat uncomfortable with this idea. Unfortunately, all of this wrangling is causing some delay in the adoption of a final plan. Following is a list of a few known things:

• All premises that have animals will have to register with the Commonwealth of Virginia by July 2008.
• Premises required to register are all that raise, house, or care for equine, bovine, porcine, avian and camelids, to name a few. Excluded in the registration process are dogs, cats and other pets as classified by USDA regulations. For more info, visit www.USDA.gov/nais.
• At the present time, registration is free and voluntary.
• Group-housed animals including fish, poultry, etc. will be identified by lot number only.
• Mandatory reporting of all animal movement will be required by January 2009.
• Unclear at this time is to whom we will report.
• The system will allow us to adopt a system of electronic health certificates, brucellosis records, etc.

I attended the meeting of the Virginia Animal Identification Forum in late March to help formulate a Virginia-specific plan. I will update our website as the information becomes available or you can visit www.usda.gov/nais.