HR1184

LRB094 20234 LJB 58136 r






1

HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
2
    WHEREAS, The United States Department of Agriculture 
3
(USDA) initiated the implementation of a National Animal 
4
Identification System (NAIS) in 2004; and

 
5
    WHEREAS, The NAIS is a cooperative State-federal-industry 
6
program administered by USDA's Animal and Plant Health 
7
Inspection Service (APHIS); and

 
8
    WHEREAS, The ultimate long-term goal of the NAIS is to 
9
provide State and federal officials with the capability to 
10
identify all animals and premises that have had direct contact 
11
with a disease of concern within 48 hours after discovery; and

 
12
    WHEREAS, The NAIS will be established through a phased-in 
13
approach; and

 
14
    WHEREAS, There are 3 main components of the NAIS that 
15
include premises identification, animal identification, and 
16
animal tracking; and

 
17
    WHEREAS, All states became operational on premises 
18
registration by mid-2005, with 160,000 premises registered as 
19
of December 1, 2005; and

 
20
    WHEREAS, The NAIS program is currently voluntary; and

 
21
    WHEREAS, The system is still under development and there 
22
are many issues still being considered; and

 
23
    WHEREAS, Industry working groups have been established for 
24
different types of livestock to determine what type of 
25
identification system would work best for each given type of 
26
livestock; and

 
 


 






HR1184
- 2 -
LRB094 20234 LJB 58136 r




1
    WHEREAS, The current goal is to have a mandatory system in 
2
place in 2009; and

 
3
    WHEREAS, Many livestock producers are concerned about the 
4
impact this system may have on them and what they may have to 
5
do to comply with the system; and

 
6
    WHEREAS, Livestock producers are also concerned about the 
7
confidentiality of their information and ownership of database 
8
information; and

 
9
    WHEREAS, Some farmers are concerned about the financial 
10
cost that may be associated with the NAIS; and

 
11
    WHEREAS, Concerns exist that the NAIS may have more of an 
12
effect on small farmers than large livestock producers; 
13
therefore, be it

 
14
    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
15
NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
16
we urge the United States Department of Agriculture to consider 
17
small producer and farm animal owner concerns in the 
18
development of the National Animal Identification System; and 
19
be it further

 
20
    RESOLVED, That we urge the United States Department of 
21
Agriculture to provide additional information to farm animal 
22
owners on the current status of the National Animal 
23
Identification System and what is being considered for the 
24
system; and be it further
 
25
    RESOLVED, That we urge the United States Department of 
26
Agriculture to consider the diverse differences between 
27
different livestock industries and allow for flexibility for 
28
different types of livestock in the development of the National 
29
Animal Identification System; and be it further
 
 


 






HR1184
- 3 -
LRB094 20234 LJB 58136 r




1
    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
2
delivered to the United States Secretary of Agriculture.