The Canadian Pork Council, the Mexican Pork Association and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) have agreed that "swine health and the ability to quickly identify the origin of an animal with a disease" are priorities for North American pork producers. In a recent meeting concerning animal ID, the groups agreed their countries' ID systems should have "similarities to increase traceback efficiency, that producers in each nation should be made aware of program standards and of how important it is to the North American pork industry to be diligent in the implementation process." It was agreed each country would move as rapidly as possible to enhance current traceback standards.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C., correspondent