USDA scraps plans for forced chipping of pets!
WASHINGTON - February 10, 2010 - For four years DC Downsizers joined with other organizations and countless farmers to oppose the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).
Finally, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture saw the writing on the wall. It is scrapping the NAIS!
The USDA still has plans for an animal tracing system, but it is to apply only to animals moving in interstate commerce, meaning . . .
Finally, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture saw the writing on the wall. It is scrapping the NAIS!
The USDA still has plans for an animal tracing system, but it is to apply only to animals moving in interstate commerce, meaning . . .
- animal owners won't have to file a report every time an animal leaves their property, whereas under NAIS horseback riders, for instance, would have had to file a report every time they went for a ride
- there will be no premise registration
- those who raise animals for personal consumption or to sell in local markets won't be part of the new regulatory system
Moreover, the new system promises . . .
- to focus entirely on animal disease traceability; bogus NAIS justifications such as "terrorism" have been scrapped
- allow for maximum flexibility for states, tribal nations, and producers to work together to find identification solutions that meet their local needs
- encourage low-cost technology; alternatives such as old-fashioned branding will most likely be accepted, instead of expensive RFID tags
- local and organic farmers will be represented
We at DownsizeDC.org are realists. We anticipate that as the new system takes shape, new concerns will arise. But think about what just happened.
The government ended a program because the people did not tolerate it.
We the People do have the power.
We used this power to bring a significant victory for pet owners and livestock producers.
