Today, the American Livestock Markets and Dealers Association (ALMDA) formally requested that USDA-APHIS delay the implementation or enforcement of the final rule on Use of Electronic Identification Eartags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison (ADT Rule).
In a letter to USDA-APHIS, ALMDA requested that the implementation or enforcement of the ADT Rule be delayed at least 180 days ensure USDA, state animal health officials, veterinarians, tag manufacturers, and the entire industry are fully prepared support the ADT Rule in a way that does not reduce industry traceability, slow speed of commerce, or increase costs for livestock markets and dealers.
ALMDA, working alongside livestock markets, dealers, order buyers, veterinarians, and state animal health officials, has identified numerous gaps in the implementation plan and communicated these to USDA officials. In September, ALMDA provided USDA with data that illustrated potential issues with the ADT Rule. As the implementation date has approached, the issues ALMDA identified are becoming a reality.
“ALMDA understands the need to protect the U.S. livestock industry and the intent of the ADT Rule to make the traceability process faster and more accurate,” said ALMDA Chair Brian Forester, a livestock market owner from Texas. “We have been transparent with USDA and shared data from member livestock markets across the U.S. which illustrate the complexity and challenges associated with implementing the ADT Rule. At this time, livestock producers, tag suppliers, and state animal health officials have acknowledged they are not prepared to implement the rule so we believe it is in USDA and the industry’s best interest to delay rule implementation or enforcement.”
ALMDA supports animal disease traceability (ADT) and the role traceability has in protecting the U.S. livestock supply. Livestock markets and dealers are already subject to a range of state and federal traceability requirements across all livestock species.
Livestock markets and dealers routinely cooperate with tracebacks for a variety of animal health diseases. Based on this experience, livestock markets and dealers understand the need for both speed and accuracy in conducting tracebacks.
ALMDA’s letter to USDA is available at www.americanlivestock.org/adt
About the American Livestock Markets and Dealers Association
The American Livestock Markets and Dealers Association (ALMDA) is a national association serving livestock markets, order buyers, dealers, and professional livestock marketers throughout the U.S. For more information, please visit www.americanlivestock.org.
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