USDA unveiled its strategic plan for implementing its National Animal Identification System (NAIS) on May 6. The plan is make premises ID and individual ID mandatory by January 2008, and tracking of all commerce mandatory by January 2009.

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said in a news conference that USDA published the paper in the Federal Register and is encouraging comments from producers and the beef industry.

A draft of the plan can be found at www.usda.gov/nais, and includes a tentative timeline for the program's implementation.

“The system will include the integration of three components — premises ID, animal ID and animal tracking,” Johanns said. “It will allow state and federal animal health officials to manage disease surveillance and control programs more effectively and more efficiently.”

Key milestones to implement the NAIS Plan

• July 2005 — All states be capable of premises registration and the animal ID system be operational.

• April 2007 — Premises registration and animal ID “alerts” to build program awareness as mandatory date approaches.

• January 2008 — Mandatory premises registration and individual animal ID required.

• January 2009 — NAIS be fully implemented and all animal movement fully reported.