Brief Description: Creating an advisory committee to evaluate animal identification programs.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Economic Development, Agriculture & Trade (originally sponsored by Representatives Pettigrew, Kristiansen, Grant, Kretz, Holmquist, Cox, B. Sullivan, Clements, Campbell, Haigh, Newhouse and Linville).

House Committee on Economic Development, Agriculture & Trade
Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Economic Development

Background:

In 2004, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiated the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) as a comprehensive information system to support ongoing animal disease monitoring, surveillance, and eradication programs. When fully operational, the system is planned to be in use in all states to identify and track animals as they come into contact and commingle with animals other than those in their premises of origin. The system is intended to enable animal health officials to trace a sick animal or group of animals back to the herd or premise that was the most likely source of infection. A stated long-term NAIS goal is to be able to identify all premises and animals that had direct contact with a foreign animal disease or domestic disease of concern within 48 hours of discovery.
      
Implementation of the NAIS involves both the federal and state departments of agriculture and has three phases: premise registration; animal identification; and animal movement reporting. The state Department of Agriculture (Department) began voluntary premise registration in January 2005. In the past year, 875 premises have registered. Issuance of unique individual or group lot animal identification numbers is the second phase. Nationally, a number of industry/government, species-specific workgroups have formed to consider which type of identification will work best for their particular animals. Methods under consideration include radio frequency identification tags, retinal scans, DNA, and others. The third phase will involve collection of information on animal movement from one premises to another. The program is voluntary at both the state and federal levels, but may become mandatory at the national level in 2009 or 2010.

Summary:

The Director of the Department (Director) must convene an advisory committee (committee) whose members represent cattle industry segments that will be involved in state-level implementation of the national animal identification program. The Director is required to consult with affected industry organizations in making committee appointments and is authorized to appoint additional members as needed. The Director must appoint one committee member who is from a federally recognized tribe and is in the cattle industry.

The advisory committee will:

• evaluate the national animal identification program requirements;
• examine approaches taken by other states, with an emphasis on neighboring states and those with the largest amount of livestock trade with Washington;
• evaluate two or more demonstration projects by the Department at facilities that handle large numbers of animals;
• make a recommendation on how to implement the federal requirements in Washington, including funding amounts and sources; and
• consult with the Office of Financial Management on the funding proposal.

The Department must provide a final written report to the Legislature on the committee's activities and recommendations by December 1, 2006.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   91   3
Senate   47   0

Effective: June 7, 2006