Who Controls Animal ID Plan is One of the Issues to be
Discussed at USDA Listening Sessions

Washington, D.C. (June 14, 2004) - In response to questions and concerns raised by America's livestock producers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced it will conduct listening and educational sessions on Animal Identification across the country this summer.

One of the questions being raised involves where a plan for animal ID would be controlled. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) continues to be concerned that any system fully contained under the umbrella of the federal government risks producer privacy.

That's why the organization continues to work through its Animal ID Commission to develop a national animal identification system that would be implemented in the private sector. Under the private sector plan, state and federal government officials would be provided with adequate information to improve the nation's animal health surveillance systems.

The USDA listening sessions will be similar to the sessions held last summer on country-of-origin labeling. The fourteen public forums will be held to discuss the development, structure and implementation of a national animal ID program for all livestock and poultry animals.

USDA announced the session schedule June 10; the first session takes place today in Fayetteville, NC. Additional listening sessions will be held in:

· Athens, Ga. on June 18
· Prineville, Ore. on July 1
· Stockton, Calif. on July 10
· Socorro, N.M. on July 16
· Pasco, Wash. on July 23
· Greeley, Colo. on Aug. 10
· Billings, Mont. on Aug. 13
· Kissimmee, Fla. on Aug. 16
· Columbus, Ohio on Aug. 18
· Ames, Iowa on Aug. 26
· Joplin, Mo. on Aug. 27
· Appleton, Wis. on Aug. 30
· St. Cloud, Minn. on Aug. 31

More details about each listening session, including the site and time of the meeting, will be posted on the APHIS Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/nais/nais.html.