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**NAIS**; also Codex Alimentarius, OIE, and WTO
Topic Started: Thursday, 29. December 2005, 11:26 (1,801 Views)
jennwarr84
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We aren't filling one out either. I just don't see why I should pay the government anything for having land and horses. Nothing we buy is tax deductible for the horses.
"We have an obligation. We are their keepers." ~Roy Jackson
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msequine
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jennwarr84
Dec 17 2007, 03:00 PM
I just don't see why I should pay the government anything for having land and horses.  Nothing we buy is tax deductible for the horses.

AMEN to that!
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I'm not filling one out


That was my first thought.
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I just had to post something about this. I have been keeping up to date on the NAIS. Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT a tracking program It is an identification program, just like AVID and HomeAgain microchips in small animals. They are not GPS chips used to track movement of animals. The only way this can be achieved is to have the chips read by a reader. During Hurricane Katrina relief, all animals rescued were microchipped, and those who had already been chipped were much easier to place back with their owners. Louisiana already requires all horses to be microchipped and that is how they identify these animals for coggins (there are no places for even drawing on a LA coggins). The reason for wanting to do this primarily is to limit stolen horses and those being misrepresented. In other words, you would have to have the true horse matched with the papers (if they are even papered) rather than being at the mercy of some horse traders that will take any papers for any horse that are a "close match". Also, this is to help identify horse/livestock owners in a certain area so that if a contagious disease is found to be in a certain area, others in that area could then be warned of the risk to their animals and be able to take necessary precautions. As a hose owner myself, I think this is a great idea. Also, with the closing of slaughterhouses the price of horses has dropped with child broke papered horses selling for less than $50 (I have seeen this)......many people who no NOTHING about horse care are going to be owning horses. Some will learn and become good horse people some day, others will not. Many of these people don't understand the importance of vaccines or coggins...putting your horses and mine at risk.

A program such as NAIS is ultimately for the good of the horse owner that is concerned with the welfare of their horses. It is not "big brother" trying to track you and your horses movement at all times. Your horse would only be able to be "tracked" by officials (same as they can do now) who have microchip readers to read the identification code of your animal.

As an owner of a dog and cats with AVID microchips, I have NEVER had a problem with Cancer, movement of the chip or any other issues brought up. Also, the microchip has allowed my dog to be returned to me after my petsitter lost him. I love it and will be getting my horse microchipped. Studies have NOT shown a direct link between microchip and cancer. As far as movement of the chip, those were only shown in cases where the chips were improperly placed. Microchips have been used for identificaiton of horses in Europe for years without any problem.

There has been a recent article in the mass equine media that also has these misinterpretations of this program. I urge you all to be careful where you read your information and do more detailed research into it. As a person who has been horribly misquoted by a LARGE equine magazine so that they could make a more interesting story, I urge you to read these articles with a grain of salt and if you want to know more, find the original source, and remember that many of those in the media want to write a story that will get your attention and some "trust" that their authors are being accurate...but unfortunatley, this is not always the case.

The true purpose of NAIS is for disease identification, control, and prevention. This is a good thing.
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Blue_rose2001
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2006
OK- slightly off topic, but related and very funny!

The Number 1 Thought For 2008:
We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow Disease is located among
millions and millions of cows in America but we haven't got a clue
as to where millions of illegal immigrants and terrorists are located.
Maybe we should put the Department of Agriculture in charge of
Immigration.

:rofl
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LeLoo
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Wild At Heart

There ya go BR!!

I wondered if we weren't being a bit paranoid myself, but I'd rather have a choice. Anything mandatory from the government seems a bit invasive.
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msequine
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Dressagegurl, thank you for posting. Your post is well thought out and presented. Another point of view also brings balance to the subject.

For those who regularly attend horse shows/events, I can certainly understand incorporating some type of notification system in the event of disease. While the EWSG has recommended that no movements be reported "for now," when does that change? I think most of us realize that these aren't GPS chips; however, as far as I'm concerned, if I have to report my horses movements (or anyone visiting my property with an animal) to the gov't within 24 hours, that is tracking.

This program has been presented as voluntary, but the above bill will make it mandatory if passed. So, we've been lied to already. Also, the fact that Digital Angel's
Quote:
 
LifeChip® equine RFID injectable transponder was the first of its kind to be approved by the USDA for use as part of the National Animal Identification System.
was approved for this exact purpose before the bill passed doesn't instill me with confidence. I have worked for both Federal and State Gov'ts, and, IME, information gathered from any such program is often shared among agencies and sometimes outside businesses as well.

Really, if people want to get their horses (or other animals) microchipped, that's fine. The bottom line, for me (and probably others, but I can only speak for myself), is that I don't want to be forced into this program. I'd rather have the opportunity to say "No, thanks."
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msequine
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Blue_rose2001
Jan 2 2008, 10:04 PM
OK- slightly off topic, but related and very funny!

The Number 1 Thought For 2008:
We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow Disease is located among
millions and millions of cows in America but we haven't got a clue
as to where millions of illegal immigrants and terrorists are located.
Maybe we should put the Department of Agriculture in charge of
Immigration.

:rofl

:lol:
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msequine
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WldHrtRnch
Jan 3 2008, 06:19 AM
...but I'd rather have a choice. Anything mandatory from the government seems a bit invasive.

:lol: I should have had you write my reply Steph. That sums it up perfectly for me.
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msequine
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NC is requiring premises registration to buy imported emergency hay (NC has hay shortage due to drought): http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Carolin...s/message/32752

Linked message above also references the NC Dept of Ag website where it states registration is required to purchase hay.
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grannycowgirl
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Kaye
2007
That is horrible. I went to the NC agri site just to read for myself. I wasn't doubting you, Ruth, but just wanted to see this in black and white. Our government is way out of line on this.

Here is an interesting article, titled, "Does NAIS stop disease?"

No. Despite recent claims by some, NAIS does nothing to stop disease or contamination in the food supply. NAIS was not intended for this purpose. The goal of the National Animal Identification System is to provide 48-hour trace back to the farm of origin in the case of problems so that the big agri-biz industry can increase their exports to foreign markets. NAIS is about expanded profits.

http://nonais.org/index.php/does-nais-stop-disease-2/

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grannycowgirl
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Kaye
2007
Small farmers and families will have to register and pay a registration fee for every head of livestock or poultry, while corporate farms with large herds or flocks of more than 30,000 chickens will only have to pay the fee equivalent of owning one animal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Anim...fication_System

So, who is our gov't looking out for, certainly not us little people. This all comes down to money, money, politics. Makes me :hair

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grannycowgirl
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Kaye
2007
It's voluntary.
Participation is your choice.
USDA has no plans to make participation in any component of NAIS mandatory.
Individual States may choose to keep participation voluntary or not, based on local needs.
USDA strongly believes that the best approach to NAIS is a voluntary system driven by the States and the private sector.
You decide - based on your needs - to participate in one, two, or all three components of NAIS.

http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/about/...s.shtml#Reason5

Yea, right. :hair :hair

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msequine
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The Federal Gov't is also tightening the purse strings for states that don't require registration. Sorry, but I don't think this is going anywhere good. It's seems like the corporations/businesses are the citizens instead of "WE THE PEOPLE."
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Interesting article:

When 'Voluntary' means 'Mandatory'



November 10, 2007

When the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced its new National Animal Identification System in 2005, it was scheduled to become mandatory in three phases: property registration by 2007; animal identification and registration by 2008; and reporting -- within 24 hours -- of animal movement off the registered property by 2009.
Even under the best of circumstances, it was an impossible goal. The idea of assigning a seven-digit number to every property in the nation that houses even a single chicken, horse, cow, goat, sheep, or any one of 29 species of animals is simply unrealistic, especially if the owners of the property don't want their property registered in a government database.

Even more ridiculous is the idea of tagging each of these hundreds of millions of animals with a radio frequency identification device containing a unique 15-digit number. And perhaps the height of unrealistic expectations was that the owners of these registered and tagged animals would report to the government every time a registered animal was moved from the registered property -- within 24 hours.

The USDA anticipated big fines for non-compliance as a way to enforce the "mandatory."

It took only a few months after the program was announced for the USDA to realize it was causing a rebellion. Small farmers, ranchers and backyard gardeners with a chicken or two joined together in local groups and national coalitions to tell the USDA the NAIS was not acceptable.

Whether intimidated by the loud public outcry or the realization that it could not meet its goals, the USDA announced in 2006 that the NAIS was no longer "mandatory," but would be a voluntary program.

On its website, the USDA boasts that more than 400,000 owners of livestock animals have registered in the "voluntary" program.

They say nothing about the fact that in Idaho alone, more than 15,000 animal owners were registered in the NAIS without their knowledge or permission, according to John Chatburn, deputy administrator of Idaho's Division of Animal Identification.


http://www.naissucks.com/index.php?con=vol...means_mandatory
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msequine
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Joey
Jan 7 2008, 07:37 AM
Whether intimidated by the loud public outcry or the realization that it could not meet its goals, the USDA announced in 2006 that the NAIS was no longer "mandatory," but would be a voluntary program.

On its website, the USDA boasts that more than 400,000 owners of livestock animals have registered in the "voluntary" program.

They say nothing about the fact that in Idaho alone, more than 15,000 animal owners were registered in the NAIS without their knowledge or permission, according to John Chatburn, deputy administrator of Idaho's Division of Animal Identification.

From what I've been reading, several states are using these approaches...either registering premises without permission OR forcing owners to sign up for the program before they can buy food, medications, etc. for their livestock.

On a separate, but related note, it appears that a company called SoMark has developed an RFID ink that can be used instead of microChips. Take a look at these two links:

http://www.somarkinnovations.com
Quote:
 
Somark is a St. Louis based tech company that is developing a patented ID system based on a RFID Bio-Ink Tattoo. When applied, the ink creates a unique ID that can be detected without line of sight. The technology will be initially applied to the livestock industry to help identify and track cattle.


http://www.rfidjournal.com/magazine/article/3079
Quote:
 
...a permanent ink tattoo that relies on radio frequency waves to read and render unique identification numbers.

The chipless and antenna-less asset identification and tracking system uses biocompatible, translucent ink that can be tattooed onto livestock, pets, laboratory animals and even food, such as meat or fruit.
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grannycowgirl
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Kaye
2007
The public relations campaign in support of the program claims it will stop, or reduce, animal disease outbreaks such as mad cow disease, by providing the ability to trace a diseased animal to its source within 48 hours. The Liberty Ark Coalition says this is a myth, because:

"Mad Cow disease is not contagious, takes years to develop, and is completely preventable. NAIS is designed to do only one thing: provide 48-hour trace-back of animal movements. This is simply not relevant to protecting our food supply from Mad Cow disease. Moreover, the USDA has stated that it estimates that there are only four to seven (4-7) cows in the entire U.S. that have BSE, or Mad Cow Disease, and that it's not even necessary to conduct testing to protect our food supply. Indeed, the USDA refuses to allow a U.S. company, Creekstone Farms & Premium Beef, to voluntarily test all of its cattle for BSE, in order to satisfy its customers' wishes. If BSE is not enough of a threat to justify (or even allow) testing, then certainly it cannot be the basis for requiring millions of animals to be electronically tagged and their every move tracked."

Opponents of the program contend that it was conceived by, and will benefit, only large meat packers and exporters, and the technology companies that provide the identification and tracking equipment.

Opposition has grown dramatically, as small farmers and ranchers realize that their horse, chickens, pigs or cows fall under the USDA's jurisdiction, and they will have to bear the cost and inconvenience of a program that will make no difference to animal health, and benefit only the large exporters and technology companies.

The public relations campaign in support of the program claims it will stop, or reduce, animal disease outbreaks such as mad cow disease, by providing the ability to trace a diseased animal to its source within 48 hours. The Liberty Ark Coalition says this is a myth, because:

"Mad Cow disease is not contagious, takes years to develop, and is completely preventable. NAIS is designed to do only one thing: provide 48-hour trace-back of animal movements. This is simply not relevant to protecting our food supply from Mad Cow disease. Moreover, the USDA has stated that it estimates that there are only four to seven (4-7) cows in the entire U.S. that have BSE, or Mad Cow Disease, and that it's not even necessary to conduct testing to protect our food supply. Indeed, the USDA refuses to allow a U.S. company, Creekstone Farms & Premium Beef, to voluntarily test all of its cattle for BSE, in order to satisfy its customers' wishes. If BSE is not enough of a threat to justify (or even allow) testing, then certainly it cannot be the basis for requiring millions of animals to be electronically tagged and their every move tracked."

Opponents of the program contend that it was conceived by, and will benefit, only large meat packers and exporters, and the technology companies that provide the identification and tracking equipment.

Opposition has grown dramatically, as small farmers and ranchers realize that their horse, chickens, pigs or cows fall under the USDA's jurisdiction, and they will have to bear the cost and inconvenience of a program that will make no difference to animal health, and benefit only the large exporters and technology companies.

http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/guest/2007/hl_01302.shtml

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grannycowgirl
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Kaye
2007
Mississippi's State NAIS administrator:

Mississippi Department of Agriculture
Contact: Dr. James Watson
Mississippi State Veterinarian/
Animal ID Coordinator
jimw@mdac.state.ms.us
Address: 121 North Jefferson Street
Jackson, MS 39201
Phone: 601-359-1170
Fax: 601-359-1177
Web: http://www.mbah.state.ms.us

http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/contac...rectories.shtml

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grannycowgirl
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Kaye
2007
I had read that in some states 4-H and FFA members were not being allowed to show their livestock if they weren't in compliance with NAIS

In February, USDA announced $6 million for cooperative agreements, subject to the availability of funding, to support nonprofit agricultural organizations to promote NAIS, and specifically, to increase participation in premises registration. USDA has awarded funding to the National Pork Board and is reviewing additional applications.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content...6/naisffa.shtml

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msequine
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Lovely. So they're using our tax $$$ to promote something we don't want!
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msequine
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Op-Ed article: Animal owners treated like sex offenders
Quote:
 
that offenders are required to register their premises and report to the government when they move. Similarly, the USDA is implementing a so-called "voluntary" program that requires owners of livestock animals to register their premises and report to the government when any animal is moved off the premises.
Quote:
 
Big government is dreaming about more power and building a bureaucracy that hopes to identify and track hundreds of millions of livestock animals and the movements of the private citizens who dare take their private property to other locations. A horse owner out for an afternoon ride would have to report to the government. A farmer who sells a pig to a neighbor would have to report to the government.

The only other citizens subject to this stringent government control are convicted sex offenders.  Surely, the citizens of this country will not allow our government to snare all livestock animal owners under this same kind of control. If government is successful in this NAIS effort, pet owners are surely next on the list. And then, the rest of the people.
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msequine
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From LibertyArk.net
USDA Plans to Use Breed Registries to Implement NAIS
Quote:
 
USDA plans to use breed associations to force NAIS registrations, beginning as early as March 2008, less than two months from now.  USDA's Business Plan calls for breed registries to start using an official Animal Identification Number, or "AIN" in their registry. And since you must first register your property in NAIS before you can
obtain an AIN, this could effectively implement the first two stages of NAIS for anyone in those registries!

The breed registries for cattle, horses, sheep, and goats are potential targets, but the Plan does not indicate which breed registries have agreed to implement NAIS.

Take Action: Contact your breed association or other livestock registry and find out if it will be implementing USDA's Plan.

Ask the registry:

* Do you plan to require members to use the USDA's 15-digit Animal Identification Number (AIN) to enter or maintain animals in your registry?

* Do you plan to require members to use the State's or USDA's premises registration system in order to obtain a breed registration number?

* Can you please confirm the registry's intentions in writing?

Tell them that you do not want them to be a tool for implementing the government's plan for NAIS!

Next Steps:

* If they plan to force their members into NAIS, consider finding another association to meet your needs if possible. If you do leave your association, be sure to tell them why.

* Spread the word! If you find out that your breed association plans to force NAIS on its members, tell all the people you know who are in that association or considering joining. Post to the online groups that focus on your type of animal. Let people know how the association is working against the best interests of its members.

* Email us to let us know what your breed association says. We'll post a list of organizations that are requiring NAIS and those that aren't.

More Information

The USDA published its Business Plan in December of last year. You can download the Plan at http://farmandranchfreedom.org/content/Government-documents

The Plan sets aggressive targets for implementation of NAIS. One of the strategies for achieving those goals is "harmonization" among various systems that already use individual identification. Harmonization involves changing the existing programs so they use the NAIS-compliant Animal Identification Numbers (AIN's). (Plan, pp.28-29).

As part of its harmonization strategy, USDA lists having breed registries begin using NAIS AIN's in March 2008, less than two months from now. (Plan, p.52). The AIN is a 15-digit internationally unique identification number. It starts with "840" which identifies the animal as coming from the US. (Plan, p.30). In order to get an AIN under NAIS, you have to register your property ("premises registration" under the NAIS plan). The legal effect of this registration is unknown, because there has been nothing like it before - permanent federal registration of citizens' property, linked to an issue (animal ownership) that carries potential liabilities.

With this harmonization strategy, USDA plans to use our private associations to force livestock, poultry, and horse owners to register their property and tag their animals under a government program, despite the continued protests of animal owners across the country.
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msequine
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Here are some interesting observations/forecasts by Juli Thorson: http://special.equisearch.com/blog/horseta...see-coming.html

Juli Thorson is Horse & Rider's lifestyle editor and has been involved in the horse industry for over 30 years IIRC. Below are a few quotes from her blog:
Quote:
 
An annual tax per head on every horse we own. This is how the government will seek to fund the equine holding facilities, "re-homing" operations, and disposal stations it will see a need to build as the unwanted-horse crisis continues to build. The Seattle Post Intelligencer just ran an editorial calling for this very sort of tax.
Quote:
 
Mandatory facilities registration, accompanied by inspections. Horse owners will pay fees toward these measures, too. This already has a name: NAIS, for National Animal Identification System. The general public will buy into this as a way to protect itself against a form of bioterrorism.
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Federal taxation on every breeding. I don't think I need to explain this one. Just see...
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msequine
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http://farmandranchfreedom.org/content/association-positions

Registries that currently (subject to change)do not intend to require NAIS registration:
Quote:
 

American Quarter Horse Association (oral statement, 1/11/08)

Appaloosa Horse Club (email statement, 1/14/08) (The ApHC adopted a resolution "expressing concern" about the impact of NAIS in the Spring of 2007.  The email stated that there has not been any discussion by the Board about NAIS since that time.)

Arabian Horse Association.  1/30/08 - AHA has posted a position statement at http://www.arabianhorses.org/registration/...news_080130.asp.  The Association states that it does not plan to require NAIS as part of its registration.  But its position statement essentially repeats the claims of the USDA and the Equine Species Working Group, including the alleged benefits of NAIS.

Pinto Horse Association (oral statement 1/20/8): Will not require AIN in 2008.  There is a board meeting in April 2008, at which the Directors will determine whether to require AINs next year.

Spotted Saddle Horse Breeders & Exhibitors Association (email 1/20/08): No plans at this time

Tennesee Walking Horse Breeders & Exhibitos Association
(email 1/20/08): Will not require AIN for 2008, but may in the future if necessary.
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msequine
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The Cart & The Horse – The Controversy Behind NAIS
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/content.asp?contentid=205300
Quote:
 
A few weeks ago, Equinenetwork posted some information about NAIS, the often controversial project that’s been a bone of contention among some horse owners.  The intent was to cut through the fog of misinformation and just get to the facts.

What happened was quite a bit more.  In the old days, it would have meant a mail bag full of cards and letters.  Here in the early days of the twenty-first century, though, comments are much more immediate, arriving almost instantly via email.  Many of the comments expressed real fear about the impact of NAIS and all the things that might come with it.
Quote:
 
To make sure that what each of them said was what they really wanted to say – no ambush or ‘gotcha’ journalism or second thoughts about how a particular point was expressed, I emailed the questions to each of them and asked that they think through their responses carefully.  Indeed, after reading their first draft, Bergener and McGreary asked for a few more days to polish their answers.  To be fair, everyone received essentially the same questions, altered only slightly to get to the core of their position on the issue.


Click the link above to read entire article.
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msequine
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http://www.aaep.org/health_articles_view.php?id=103

Looks like AAEP is espousing the party line.
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msequine
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http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=12068

Industry Debates Animal Identification System's Impact on Horses

Quote:
 
Despite considerable opposition from groups who say the program is unworkable or an invasion of privacy, the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is making inexorable inroads into the lives of horse owners.


Quote:
 
"We recognize that NAIS is not a popular thing with the American public, but it is being brought in for all species of livestock and the horse industry is going to have go along for the ride," Morehead said.


Quote:
 
Morehead emphasized that NAIS remains strictly voluntary, and that there is currently no deadline for completion of the program, which was launched in 2003. But at least two states, Michigan and Wisconsin, have now made the identification of premises housing livestock compulsory, and a raft of lawsuits are now surfacing, alleging that the USDA is violating the Fourth and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution.
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msequine
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http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=12239
USDA Ordered to Release NAIS Data
Quote:
 
Agricultural journalist Mary-Louise Zanoni has succeeded in keeping the USDA from applying Privacy Act safeguards to information it has collected from livestock owners as part of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). These safeguards would have restricted access to the information by journalists as well as the livestock owners whose information might be included without their knowledge.

Quote:
 
Len Brown, of the law firm Clymer & Musser of Lancaster, Pa., represented Zanoni in the case. He commented, "It boils down to a database created by the U.S. government in an inappropriate way. This created huge hurdles for journalists trying to write about NAIS.

"The rules say people being placed in a database such as this need to be notified, but the USDA has admitted to data mining from sources like state veterinarians and avian flu records, even entry lists from county fairs," Brown stated.

Although Zanoni's action against the USDA garnered a fairly swift response from the federal District Court, Brown said they're still trying to get the USDA to release the database.
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grannycowgirl
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Kaye
2007
Groups Urge Congress to Immediately Halt Any Further Advancement of NAIS;
Also Request Oversight Hearing to Investigate NAIS Activities

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/Content.asp?ContentID=228926

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msequine
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grannycowgirl
Thursday, 24. July 2008, 23:18
Groups Urge Congress to Immediately Halt Any Further Advancement of NAIS;
Also Request Oversight Hearing to Investigate NAIS Activities

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/Content.asp?ContentID=228926
Thanks for posting GC!
Quote From Article
 
...the actual scope of this NAIS registry was anything but voluntary, as media reports indicate there likely are thousands of U.S. citizens whose property was added to the NAIS registry against their will or without their knowledge,” said R-CALF USA President Max Thornsberry, a Missouri veterinarian who also chairs the group’s animal health committee.

“It’s also important to note that USDA has provided no evidence to demonstrate that the NAIS registry is even feasible, as no cost/benefit analysis has been conducted to determine if the cost of NAIS to food-animal owners can be recovered in the marketplace, nor has USDA provided evidence to show that things like normal loss of ear tags, data entry errors and/or computer malfunctions would not effectively thwart any traceback efforts,” Thornsberry pointed out. “As a result of this lack of information, USDA cannot justify the need for its NAIS system or its related proposal for a new system of records.
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