FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 2299

C 233 L 04

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Establishing a system of animal identification.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Linville, Schoesler, Kenney, McDonald, Hunt, G. Simpson, Haigh, Shabro, Morrell, Clibborn, Newhouse, Clements, Hudgins and Benson; by request of Department of Agriculture).

House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources

Senate Committee on Agriculture

Background:

The state's livestock identification program and laws are administered by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA). Legislation enacted in 2003 increased the fees charged to fund the program and identified the evidence of ownership that must accompany cattle or horses when they are moved. The 2003 legislation also directed the WSDA to form an advisory committee to: evaluate mechanisms that may need to be established by the public and the private sectors to comply with federal country-of-origin labeling requirements, evaluate any requirements that may be placed on the meat products industry by federal food safety and traceability requirements as part of homeland security measures, and review the national identification work plan developed by a task force advising the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The WSDA must submit a written report of the findings and conclusion of the advisory committee by December 1, 2005.

On December 30, 2003, U. S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman announced that the USDA would begin the implementation of a verifiable system of national animal identification.

Summary:

The Director of the WSDA (Director) may adopt rules: to support the agriculture industry in meeting federal requirements for the country-of-origin labeling of meat; and to implement federal requirements for animal identification needed to trace the source of livestock for disease control and response purposes. In doing so, the Director may cooperate with and enter into agreements with other states and agencies of the federal government.

The Director's rules regarding country-of-origin labeling must be substantially consistent with federal requirements and may not exceed federal requirements. The Director's rules for tracing the source of livestock for disease control and response purposes must be developed in consultation with the Livestock Identification Advisory Board.

Votes on Final Passage:

House 96  0

Senate 49  0    (Senate amended)

House 96  0    (House concurred)

Effective: June 10, 2004