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National Animal Identification System |
(518) 457-3502 |
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Evolving Risk
Causes And Effects Of Animal Health
Issues: Highlights
National Animal Identification System (NAIS)
Premises Registration
Animal Identification
Animal Tracking
Elements
Impact of the Exeption
Impact of Commerce
Confidentiality
Producer Responsibilities
Premises Registration Form || PDF
Background
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has a long and successful history of preventing, controlling, and eradicating diseases of animal health and public health significance. Examples of successful disease control efforts include the elimination of equine infectious anemia in horses, eradication of brucellosis and tuberculosis in cattle and deer populations, eradication of chronic wasting disease in captive deer populations, elimination of low pathogenic avian influenza in poultry, and many others. Outbreaks of numerous emerging or introduced pathogens of animal and public health significance are managed, often without notice of the general production animal community. None of these achievements are possible in the absence of the cooperation, forward thinking and active participation of New York’s animal caretakers and managers. Furthermore, no major disease control effort has been successful in the absence of an animal identification system.
Evolving Risk:
In 2001, a vulnerability assessment was conducted by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (http://ianrhome.unl.edu/inthenews/resources/safe_animal_health.pdf) to evaluate the risk to the animal health threat and the current status of the national infrastructure to address such risks. Their findings call for the recognition that animal health threats have evolved, and that the animal health infrastructure is inappropriately positioned to deal with these increased threats.
The study identified specific areas of concern: 
CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF ANIMAL HEALTH
ISSUES: HIGHLIGHTS (Safeguarding Review: (NASDA 2001)
- As mobility increases, animal and human health risk factors increase as well.
- Free trade increases pressure on detection practices, leading to oversimplification and lower efficacy.
- Increased agricultural trade increases exposure to diseases from foreign sources.
- As the average size of commercial livestock operations increases, more animals are at risk per outbreak.
- Exotics are more and more often found on modern hobby farms, hunting preserves, in aquaculture, and as pets, and the variety of backgrounds of these animals presents wide ranging exposure to diseases for which immune systems are often unprepared….
Rationale for a New Approach
The rapid detection and management of diseased populations is a key to the ultimate success of such efforts, and is a primary determinant of the ability to limit the impact of a disease on an affected population. The speed of commerce within the animal agricultural sector, the national and global extent of markets for animals and animal products, and the utilization of non-traditional environments and animal species, creates a risk salient that must be addressed.
National Animal Identification System (NAIS):
USDA has developed the NAIS to respond to these evolving risks. Although the system is described as a voluntary system, benchmark participation criteria have been established, and there are indications that universal participation in this program is anticipated. There are three components to the national system:
- Premises Identification: This is simply assigning a unique identifier to a 911 address of a livestock production premises or allied operation.
- Individual Animal Identification: Assignment of a unique, national identification number to an animal or group of animals.
- Animal Tracking : Tracking, for animal health purposes, animals as they move throughout the livestock production sector
NYAHIS: New York Animal Health Information System:
New York State has adapted the framework of the National Animal Identification
System and modified it for application in New York. The objective of the NYAHIS is to maintain the positive aspects of surveillance embraced by the national system, tempered by practical constraints and limitations of existing technology and industry practices. Furthermore, New York State has recognized that existing animal identification methods meet the goals and objectives of a national animal identification system, and consequently will utilize such methods until equivalent substitutes can be developed.
Care was taken to ensure that New York producers would be considered part of the national system, and entitled to the recognition and privileges afforded that status.
The New York Animal Health Information Systems includes the following elements:
- Premises Identification: Premises location (911 addresses) and description of animals on premises will be collected on livestock premises in New York. Defining the vulnerable animal populations in advance of an animal threat sets the stage for appropriately limited, efficient, and effective response. Such advanced preparation will minimize disruption of business, and economic and social impacts of that animal health threat.
The 911 address information will be sent to the federal premises registration system in order to obtain the federal premises ID number. That system will return a unique, nationally recognized premises registration number. The premises ID number will then be mailed to each New York livestock premises for their use.
Federal premises registration is an important component of the system.
Participation in the federal effort at this level grants recognition to New York livestock operations and ensures that New York livestock will be held in good standing for movement, health status, and other advantages available to cooperating states. Individual animal level information, as provided, will be retained in New York’s database, and will not be forwarded to the USDA database.
- Individual Animal Identification: New York State will continue to accept existing means of unique individual animal identification developed for past disease control efforts. Such systems have served the industry well.
Evaluation of newer animal identification technologies with the benefits of ease of reading, error free transcription, rapid detection and automated data entry will continue. New York State will not dictate the use of one approved identification device over another, but will rely on industry utility and acceptability to drive the adoption of new technologies. The benefits of individual animal identification for management on a livestock operation are will documented. It is anticipated that the value of information returned to the farm will encourage greater use of individual animal ID.
- Animal Tracking: New York State has purchased its own database to maintain premises, animal, and movement information. The record of the appearance of an animal on one or more premises generates a rough movement history. This information will be used to guide disease control investigations and identify animals potentially exposed to an infectious disease.
Other Considerations:
Impact of the Exception:
Universal animal production unit participation in a New York Animal Health Information System is critical to the success of the system. The ability of the system to quickly detect animal populations at risk and guide the deployment of response resources will be degraded by non-participation. This increased risk is transferred to all susceptible animal populations and livestock operations. The impact of non-participation reduces the statewide preparedness and response status. It slows effective response. Consequently, animal production premises identification and location will be given priority.
Speed of Commerce:
As noted previously, the speed of commerce and the evolution of the livestock production systems have substantially increased the risk of the introduction, transmission, or dissemination of animal health, food safety, or environmental health pathogens. Success demands that decisions followed by appropriate reaction take place within the timeframe of the transmission cycle of such infectious agents. Current systems are unable to meet that requirement, and consequently, introductions of many infectious agents will spiral out of control and defy containment. The impact may be devastating, from an animal health, animal welfare, social, economic, and public health perspective.
Confidentiality:
Agriculture in general and livestock production specifically are considered part of the critical infrastructure of the United States and New York State. This designation is conferred in recognition of the potential impact that a livestock disease may have on economic, social, animal health, food supply and public health systems. Information collected to protect such critical systems must be accessed in a restricted and controlled manner.
Currently, production animal data is not sufficiently protected given its sensitive and critical nature. Legislation is required to appropriately address this need.
Producer Responsibilities:
Producer requirements associated with the development of a New York Animal Health Information System are minimal. We are requesting that the producer provide us with notification of the location of the production operation (911 address), the operation type, the name and phone number of a contact person, and a summary description of the animal populations managed on the premises. There is no requirement for RFID tags or other electronic devices.
Summary:
As noted in the 2001 Animal Health Safeguarding Review, animal health production systems are vulnerable to the introduction or the emergence of infectious agents.
In an effort to ensure the continued ability to provide appropriate safeguards for animal health, the development and implementation of a New York Animal Health Information System is necessary. The hallmarks of a robust system include:
- Permits animal health officials to respond in an efficient and appropriate manner when faced with an animal health event.
- Quantifies the magnitude of the susceptible population when faced with an animal health threat. This facilitates an appropriately limited response.
- Permits animal health officials to provide information to animal managers or caretakers that may help prevent the introduction or transmission of an animal health threat.
- Permits the limited application of adverse regulatory actions to specifically affected populations thereby limiting impact on the broader industry or non-affected herds or groups.
- Facilitates rapid and accurate sample submission to laboratories throughout the United States.
Summary:
Effective implementation of this system is well underway, and will require minimum effort on the part of the producer. There is a great deal of misinformation circulating about this program, and some commitment and resolve will be required to work through those issues. |
